Hypertrophy vs. Atrophy — What's the Difference?

Hypertrophy (, from Greek ὑπέρ "excess" + τροφή "nourishment") is the increase in the volume of an organ or tissue due to the enlargement of its component cells. It is distinguished from hyperplasia, in which the cells remain approximately the same size but increase in number.

Atrophy is the partial or complete wasting away of a part of the body. Causes of atrophy include mutations (which can destroy the gene to build up the organ), poor nourishment, poor circulation, loss of hormonal support, loss of nerve supply to the target organ, excessive amount of apoptosis of cells, and disuse or lack of exercise or disease intrinsic to the tissue itself.

The enlargement of an organ or tissue from the increase in size of its cells

A wasting or decrease in size of a body organ, tissue, or part owing to disease, injury, or lack of use

A nontumorous enlargement of an organ or a tissue as a result of an increase in the size rather than the number of constituent cells

A wasting away, deterioration, or diminution

To grow or cause to grow abnormally large.

To cause to wither or deteriorate; affect with atrophy.

An increase in the size of an organ or tissue due to the enlargement of its individual cells.

To waste away; wither or deteriorate.

Increase in muscle size through increased size of individual muscle cells; a result of weightlifting, and other exercise. It differs from muscle hyperplasia, which is the formation of new muscle cells.

(pathology) A reduction in the functionality of an organ caused by disease, injury or lack of use.

To increase in size.

(intransitive) To wither or waste away.

A condition of overgrowth or excessive development of an organ or part; - the opposite of atrophy.

(transitive) To cause to waste away or become abortive; to starve or weaken.

Abnormal enlargement of a body part or organ

A wasting away from lack of nourishment; diminution in bulk or slow emaciation of the body or of any part.

Undergo hypertrophy;

To cause to waste away or become abortive; to starve or weaken.

To waste away; to dwindle.

A decrease in size of an organ caused by disease or disuse

Any weakening or degeneration (especially through lack of use)

Undergo atrophy;