Which term is defined as enlargement of tissue?

• A. Hyperplasia
• B. Dysplasia
• C. Hypertrophy
• D. Atrophy

Answer: (B)

Hypertrophy is enlargement of tissue due to an increase in cell size rather than the number of cells. It happens when a tissue is asked to do more work or is influenced by hormones, leading existing cells to grow bigger. For example, skeletal muscles grow larger with strength training because the muscle fibers enlarge. The heart can enlarge its muscle cells in response to chronic high blood pressure or valve disease, increasing force generation. This differs from hyperplasia, where tissue grows because more cells are produced. Dysplasia refers to abnormal changes in cell shape and organization, often a precancerous finding, and atrophy is the opposite process, where tissue shrinks due to a decrease in cell size or number. So, enlargement of tissue due to bigger cells is hypertrophy.