Muscle hypertrophy

Muscle hypertrophy refers to the increase in size of muscle cells, a common outcome of physical exercise in humans and other animals. It is one of the primary methods the body uses to build and strengthen muscles.

Mechanism

Muscle hypertrophy occurs when the fibers of the muscles sustain damage or injury. The body repairs damaged fibers by fusing them, which increases the mass and size of the muscles. Even though the process sounds simple, different factors such as protein synthesis and hormonal responses play a role in muscle hypertrophy.

Types

There are two types of muscle hypertrophy: myofibrillar and sarcoplasmic. Myofibrillar hypertrophy leads to increased muscle strength, while sarcoplasmic hypertrophy helps increase muscle size but not strength.

Factors affecting muscle hypertrophy

Several factors affect muscle hypertrophy, including genetics, nutrition, and type of exercise. Genetics can play a significant role in muscle growth and development. Nutrition is also crucial as the body requires extra calories and protein to build new muscle tissue. The type of exercise performed also impacts the degree of muscle growth.

Training for hypertrophy

Training for hypertrophy involves specific types of exercise routines. These routines typically involve high-volume, high-resistance exercises. The goal is to cause muscle damage, which the body then repairs, leading to increased muscle size.

See also

• Muscle atrophy
• Bodybuilding
• Strength training
• Physical exercise

External links

• Muscle Hypertrophy on WikiMD

Muscle hypertrophy Resources
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