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Difference Between Hypertrophy and Hyperplasia

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Introduction

MVSAT 2024

Disease happens for a variety of reasons. Some diseases represent random changes in a cell's ability to proliferate and function normally, and in other situations, the disease occurs when external stimuli cause changes in the cell's environment that prevent the cell from maintaining Homeostasis. 

 

It includes hyperplasia, hypertrophy, atrophy, and metaplasia and may be physiological or pathological, depending on whether the stimulus is normal or abnormal.

 

A cell may adapt to a certain point, but if the stimulus continues beyond that point, it may result in cell failure, and hence organ failure.

 

In this article hypertrophy, hyperplasia, and its differences are discussed in detail.

What is Hypertrophy?

Hypertrophy is the growth of a given tissue or organ. It does not include an increase due to adhesion or deposition of fat, or because of cell proliferation. 

 

Hypertrophy is only due to the enlargement of the cells of the tissue or organ. It occurs in permanent cells (non-dividing, like muscle skeletal, cardiac muscle, etc.).

 

Hypertrophy is Divided into Two Types, They are: 

 

Physiological Hypertrophy: After the demand is reduced the tissues return to their initial state.

 

Pathological Hypertrophy: Even after the demand is reduced the tissues do not return to their initial state.

Depending on the reason that cause it the hypertrophy can be:

  • Compensatory hypertrophy

  • Regenerative hypertrophy

  • Vicarious hypertrophy

Compensatory Hypertrophy 

It occurs in response to increased load from a certain organ (e.g. when a person has a heart defect). Either the valve through which the heart has to push blood contracts or the valves are not completely closed in this condition. 

 

In both cases, it takes more hard effort to treat. Muscle cells increase their number, and myofibrils accumulate. In healthy people, the heart can also increase in size. For example, athletes. The cardiovascular load increases with large physical loads which results in compensatory hypertrophy.

 

Regenerative Hypertrophy 

It happens when one part of an organ dies or gets removed. This organ's remaining cells increase their volume and begin working more intensively to compensate for the loss. This is possible, for example, in kidney and liver diseases.

 

Vicarious Hypertrophy

It develops on the loss of one of the two double organs. The remaining organ assumes the entire load and increases significantly. This happens for example after removing one kidney.

 

Vicarious hypertrophy occurs on the loss of one of the two double organs. The remaining organ absorbs all of the load and greatly increases. For example: This occurs after removal of the one kidney.

What is Hyperplasia?

Hyperplasia is termed when there is an increase in the amount of a tissue that results from cell proliferation. It can lead to a considerable enlargement of a certain organ.

 

A common response to a stimulus is hyperplasia. The cells which have been obtained are normal but in increased numbers. The modification of adaptive cells in hyperplasia is an increase in cell count. It happens in stable or labile dividing cells.

 

Hyperplasia can be a normal (physiological) or pathogenic response to some stimulus. Development hormones control cells that undergo hyperplasia, and proliferation ceases when the stimulus is removed.

 

Hyperplastic Growth Can be due to Various Stimuli: 

  • Due to increase in demand (e.g. for compensation of skin loss)

  • Due to any hormonal dysfunctions,

  • chronic inflammatory response

  • Damage Compensation

 

An example of hyperplasia is the proliferation of milk-secreting glandular cells in the breasts during pregnancy.

 

The hemihyperplasia is yet another example of hyperplasia. This is a hyperplasia that affects only one side of the body and can be linked to the generation of limbs of various sizes.

 

Compensatory hyperplasia occurs after an acute wound in the liver. It leads to the production of new cells, restoring liver function.

Sebaceous hyperplasia is a condition in which the skin of the face shows small yellowish growths.

 

Though hypertrophy and hyperplasia commonly represent the changes in cell ability and functions. Both are different from each other. Let’s see hypertrophy and hyperplasia differences below.

Hypertrophy Vs Hyperplasia

Hypertrophy

Hyperplasia

The increase in the volume of a given tissue or organ only due to the extension of the cells

The increase in the amount of a tissue caused by the cell proliferation

Mainly incited by increased demand.

Mainly incited by excessive cell stimulation.

Cell enlargement.

Cell proliferation.

Result of increased production of proteins in cells.

Result of mature cell proliferation, powered by growth factors

Happens in permanent cells (non-dividing, such as skeletal or cardiac muscle).

Happens in labile or stable dividing cells.

Hyperplasia Treatments

Improving the immune system to treat hyperplasia is necessary. You can follow these steps to improve your immune system naturally.


Hormone balance: you can maintain the hormones by having healthy lifestyles like maintaining the proper diet, exercising regularly, avoiding toxins like smoking, drinking, sleeping regularly, and managing stress. 

  • Proper diet: Proper diet includes healthy fiber, proteins, and fats. This includes-

  1. Fruits

  2. Vegetables

  3. Almonds, nuts

  4. Seafood

  5. Fresh herbs

  6. Olive oil, cucumber,coconut oil

  7. Raw meat

  8. Green leafy

  9. Milk and eggs

  10. The rich fiber and proteins

  11. Yogurt

  12. Sprouts 

  13. Wild-caught fish

  • Intake supplements like Vitamin C and Vitamin D that help in regulating hormones. Expose yourself to the sun every day. Start using mushrooms and turmeric in your daily life. Vitamin C acts as an antioxidant that fights against hyperplasia.

Vitamin D regulates hormones and boosts the immune system.

  • Detoxification methods help in the regulation of hormones. Stay away from toxins like excessive  drinking, smoking, drugs, etc

  • Turmeric helps in killing cancer cells and tumor growth will be stopped.

  • Exercising regularly helps in boosting your immune system. It helps in increasing the strength of muscles, treating cancer and cardiac diseases. It increases your lifespan, improves the immune system, protects your brain, and helps in having a good sleep.

  • Sleep regularly, have a sound sleep for 7 hours daily. Reduce your stress, meditate every day, and practice yoga. Include healthy habits like walking every day, prayers, guided meditation, spending time with your friends and family, relaxing with nature. Focus on leading a healthy lifestyle.

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FAQs on Difference Between Hypertrophy and Hyperplasia

1. Can Hyperplasia and Hypertrophy Occur Together?

Although hypertrophy and hyperplasia are two distinct processes, they frequently occur together, such as in the case of the hormonally-induced proliferation and enlargement of the cells of the uterus during pregnancy.


If the cells are capable of synthesizing DNA, then both hyperplasia and hypertrophy occur together. Hypertrophy occurs only in non-dividing cells.


Hyperplasia occurs only in the organs that are having stem cells and undergo cellular differentiation and they become mature cells. For example, Intestine. Hyperplasia doesn’t occur in relatively permanent tissues without stem cells- like cardiac, nerve, and adult skeletal muscle tissue.

2. What is an Example of Hyperplasia? 

Physiological Hyperplasia: This happens due to a normal stressor. For example, increase in breast size during pregnancy, increase in endometrium thickness during the menstrual cycle, and post partial resection growth of the liver. 

 

It is often beneficial. Effects of physiological hyperplasia on the liver have chances of recovery. Tonsils that appear when we are sick are beneficial as they produce excessive cells which are helpful in fighting against viruses.

 

In older men, Benign prostatic hyperplasia (BPH) or prostate enlargement is common. It is noncancerous and also not harmful. A damaged liver is a condition of Compensatory liver hyperplasia which is not harmful. Instead, it is useful in liver transplantation.

Pathological Hyperplasia: This happens due to an abnormal stressor.

3. What is the Cause of Hypertrophy?

Many health conditions make your heart work harder than normal. High blood pressure (hypertension), is the most common cause of LVH.


Other causes include exercise-related athletic hypertrophy, valve disease, hypertrophic cardiomyopathy (HOCM), and congenital heart disease.


The majority of the patients having high blood pressure are subjected to  Left Ventricular Hypertrophy. Inflammation causes hypertrophy in areolar and osseous textures. Aortic valve stenosis is also a cause of left ventricular hypertrophy. This is a condition of narrowing of the valve of the heart. The thickening of muscle tissues results in Hypertrophic cardiomyopathy which is a genetic disorder. This is also happening with people having normal blood pressure.

4. What are the two types of Hypertrophy?

The substitute response to the flawed or disappeared parenchymatous cells is called hypertrophy. In response to the stimulus, the size of the cells will be expanded. Muscular hypertrophy is an example of this.

Muscular hypertrophy is classified into two types. 

They are:

  • Myofibrillar: Growth of muscle contraction parts.

  • Sarcoplasmic: Muscle glycogen storage is increased.

  • Physiologic Hypertrophy: the enhanced growth of an organ due to an increase in the size of cells and increased cardiac function. It is commonly observed in athletes, an increase in structure and molecular profile due to excessive training. It is adaptive.

  • Pathologic Hypertrophy: There will be a decrease in the size of heart chambers Which leads to alteration of gene expression. Cardiac arrest due to pathologic hypertrophy is less reversible. It is adaptive in certain situations. Chronic hypertension is an example of this.

5. What is the cause of Hyperplasia?

The excessive growth of various body parts due to increased cell reproduction is called hyperplasia or hypergenesis For example: during the early stages of cancers, cells multiply in huge numbers and it leads to various adverse effects. There are various reasons for hyperplasia. They are-

  • Hormonal Imbalance: Excessive estrogen production leads to endometrial hyperplasia

  • Lack of exercise and physical activity, obesity, overeating, lack of nutrition, and poor diet also cause hyperplasia.

  • Binge drinking, smoking, and other toxic intakes also cause hyperplasia.

  • Genetic inheritance of various cancers like breast, uterine, or ovarian.

  • The preceding medical conditions like diabetes, thyroid, cancer, gallbladder disease, or polycystic ovarian syndrome.

  • Irregularity in menstruation or delay in menopause for women also causes hyperplasia.


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