hypertrophy

/haɪˈpʌrtrəfi/

Other forms: hypertrophied; hypertrophies

Definitions of hypertrophy

1. noun

   abnormal enlargement of a body part or organ
   types:

   adenomegaly

   gland enlargement

   cor pulmonale

   enlargement of the right ventricle of the heart due to disease of the lungs or of the pulmonary blood vessels

   dactylomegaly

   abnormally large fingers or toes

   elephantiasis

   hypertrophy of certain body parts (usually legs and scrotum); the end state of the disease filariasis

   splenomegaly

   an abnormal enlargement of the spleen

   giantism, gigantism, overgrowth

   excessive size; usually caused by excessive secretion of growth hormone from the pituitary gland

   acromegalia, acromegaly

   enlargement of bones of hands and feet and face; often accompanied by headache and muscle pain and emotional disturbances; caused by overproduction of growth hormone by the anterior pituitary gland (due to a tumor)

   elephantiasis neuromatosa

   hypertrophy of a limb

   chyloderma, elephantiasis scroti

   swelling of the scrotum resulting from chronic lymphatic obstruction

   nevoid elephantiasis, pachyderma

   thickening of the skin (usually unilateral on an extremity) caused by congenital enlargement of lymph vessel and lymph vessel obstruction

   type of:

   dysplasia

   abnormal development (of organs or cells) or an abnormal structure resulting from such growth
2. verb

   undergo hypertrophy
   “muscles can hypertrophy when people take steroids”

   type of:

   grow

   become larger, greater, or bigger; expand or gain