Atrophy vs. Hypotrophy — What's the Difference?

Reduction in effectiveness or prevalence.

Enlargement of an organ or tissue from the increase in size of its cells.

The process of a body part shrinking or wasting away.

Increase in cellular size resulting in organ enlargement.

A reduction in tissue mass.

Thickening of body tissues.

The degeneration of cells, leading to decreased organ size.

The growth in muscle size through exercise.

Loss of muscle due to aging or disease.

Adaptive increase in size or capacity.

Atrophy is the partial or complete wasting away of a part of the body. Causes of atrophy include mutations (which can destroy the gene to build up the organ), poor nourishment, poor circulation, loss of hormonal support, loss of nerve supply to the target organ, excessive amount of apoptosis of cells, and disuse or lack of exercise or disease intrinsic to the tissue itself.

Progressive degeneration of an organ or tissue caused by loss of cells.

A wasting or decrease in size of a body organ, tissue, or part owing to disease, injury, or lack of use

A degeneration in the functioning of an organ due to the reduction of the volume of the cells

A wasting away, deterioration, or diminution

To cause to wither or deteriorate; affect with atrophy.

To waste away; wither or deteriorate.

(pathology) A reduction in the functionality of an organ caused by disease, injury or lack of use.

(intransitive) To wither or waste away.

(transitive) To cause to waste away or become abortive; to starve or weaken.

A wasting away from lack of nourishment; diminution in bulk or slow emaciation of the body or of any part.

To cause to waste away or become abortive; to starve or weaken.

To waste away; to dwindle.

A decrease in size of an organ caused by disease or disuse

Any weakening or degeneration (especially through lack of use)

Undergo atrophy;

Causes include disuse, malnutrition, severe injury, or diseases affecting the nerves supplying the muscles.

Atrophy involves tissue shrinkage or loss, while hypertrophy involves tissue enlargement or growth.

Hormones like testosterone and growth hormone play significant roles in promoting muscle hypertrophy.

Muscle hypertrophy can be achieved through consistent resistance training and adequate protein intake.

Hypertrophy is a normal increase in cell size, while cancerous growths involve uncontrolled cell division.

Atrophy can often be prevented through regular exercise, proper nutrition, and avoiding prolonged inactivity.

Engaging in regular physical activity and ensuring a balanced diet rich in essential nutrients can help reduce the risk of muscle atrophy.

While muscle hypertrophy is beneficial, organ hypertrophy like that of the heart or liver can be harmful and indicative of disease.

Aging can make achieving hypertrophy more challenging and increase the risk of atrophy, especially without regular physical activity.

Brain cells do not undergo hypertrophy; instead, brain function can improve through other mechanisms like increased synaptic connections.

Yes, diseases like muscular dystrophy and multiple sclerosis can cause significant muscle atrophy.

Signs include noticeable shrinkage of muscles, decreased strength, and in some cases, reduced functionality of affected areas.

Yes, hypertrophy can be reversed or normalized, particularly through changes in physical activity levels and medical interventions.

Yes, hypertrophy can affect organ function, such as in the heart where it can alter blood flow dynamics and lead to complications.

Nutritional supplements can help if atrophy is related to dietary deficiencies but should be complemented with physical therapy and exercise.