Atrophy vs Hypertrophy: What’s the Difference?
The difference at a glance
Atrophy is the wasting away or shrinking of tissue. Hypertrophy is the enlargement or growth of an organ or tissue.
Example sentences are illustrative learning examples, not verified quotations.
What does Atrophy mean?
noun / verb · /ˈæt.rə.fi/
The gradual wasting away of body tissue, an organ, or a capacity — typically from lack of use, malnutrition, or inadequate blood supply. Atrophy is loss through neglect: the thing that disappears because it was not maintained.
Explore AtrophyAtrophy in a sentence
Three months of immobilisation caused significant muscle atrophy.
Languages atrophy when they're not spoken — the vocabulary fades, the grammar simplifies.
What does Hypertrophy mean?
noun · /haɪˈpɜːr.trə.fi/
The enlargement of a tissue or organ caused by an increase in the size of its cells — typically in response to increased demand or stimulation. Muscle hypertrophy is growth in response to training; cardiac hypertrophy can be a response to disease.
Explore HypertrophyHypertrophy in a sentence
The training programme was designed specifically to trigger muscle hypertrophy.
Cardiac hypertrophy can be healthy (athlete's heart) or pathological (in response to strain).
Frequently asked questions
What is the difference between Atrophy and Hypertrophy?
Atrophy is the wasting away or shrinking of tissue. Hypertrophy is the enlargement or growth of an organ or tissue.
What does Atrophy mean?
The gradual wasting away of body tissue, an organ, or a capacity — typically from lack of use, malnutrition, or inadequate blood supply. Atrophy is loss through neglect: the thing that disappears because it was not maintained.
What does Hypertrophy mean?
The enlargement of a tissue or organ caused by an increase in the size of its cells — typically in response to increased demand or stimulation. Muscle hypertrophy is growth in response to training; cardiac hypertrophy can be a response to disease.