
Muscle hypertrophy is the process of increasing muscle mass by increasing the size of muscle-fibre cells. It is the result of either metabolic stress or muscular tension, and is typically experienced after 6 to 7 weeks of resistance training. Hypertrophy is defined as an increase in cell size without cell division, and is not to be confused with hyperplasia, or the increase of skeletal muscle fibre number.
| Characteristics | Values |
|---|---|
| Definition | An increase in cell size without cell division |
| Muscle mass | Increase in muscle volume and mass |
| Muscle fibre cross-sectional area | Increase |
| Muscle fibre type | More common in fast-twitch than slow-twitch muscles |
| Muscle fibre growth | Type 2A fibres exhibit the greatest growth |
| Training | Typically experienced after 6-7 weeks of resistance training |
| Protein synthesis | Greater than the rate of decay |
| Cause | Metabolic stress or muscular tension |
| Muscular tension | Resistance training creates localised damage to muscle tissue |
| Metabolic stress | Exercising at high intensity |
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What You'll Learn
- Muscle hypertrophy is the process of increasing muscle mass by increasing the size of muscle-fibre cells
- Hypertrophy is the result of either metabolic stress or muscular tension
- Muscle hypertrophy is more common in fast-twitch than in slow-twitch muscles
- Hypertrophy occurs in response to a higher load on the muscle
- Hypertrophy is defined as an increase in cell size without cell division

Muscle hypertrophy is the process of increasing muscle mass by increasing the size of muscle-fibre cells
Hypertrophy is defined as an increase in cell size without cell division and usually without DNA synthesis. It is not to be confused with hyperplasia, which is the increase in the number of skeletal muscle fibres. Instead, hypertrophy represents the enlargement of total muscle mass and cross-sectional area. This increase in muscle volume and mass is more common in fast-twitch than in slow-twitch muscles, with Type 2A fibres exhibiting the greatest growth.
Muscular strength is directly related to muscle size, so hypertrophy training can help individuals who want to increase their strength. However, there are pros and cons to "getting big". For example, individuals with more lean muscle mass are denser than those with more fat mass, which makes them less buoyant in water. This can make waterborne training and jobs more difficult.
Hypertrophy occurs in response to a higher load on the muscle, which activates inducible agents such as IGF-1. IGF-1 increases the activation of the downstream phosphatidylinositol-3 kinase (PI3K)/Akt pathway, which in turn increases the rate of protein synthesis. This leads to an increase in muscle size and strength.
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Hypertrophy is the result of either metabolic stress or muscular tension
Hypertrophy is the process of increasing muscle mass by increasing the size of muscle-fibre cells. It is more common in fast-twitch than in slow-twitch muscles, with type 2A fibres exhibiting the greatest growth. Hypertrophy is the result of either metabolic stress or muscular tension.
Metabolic stress is caused by exercising at a high intensity. At this level of intensity, our bodies are unable to use our oxygen pathways to deliver the energy required for a set of exercises, so we turn to our anaerobic pathways, which produce metabolites. These metabolites, such as lactate, hydrogen ions, inorganic phosphate, and creatine, release muscle-building hormones such as growth hormone and testosterone.
Muscular tension is when resistance training creates localised damage to muscle tissue. Resistance training increases the load on the muscle, which activates inducible agents such as IGF-1. IGF-1 binds to its receptor, the tyrosine kinase IGF1 receptor (IGF1R), which increases the activation of the downstream phosphatidylinositol-3 kinase (PI3K)/Akt pathway, increasing the rate of protein synthesis. This is what leads to hypertrophy, as it is defined as an increase in cell size without cell division.
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Muscle hypertrophy is more common in fast-twitch than in slow-twitch muscles
Muscle hypertrophy is the process of increasing muscle mass by increasing the size of muscle-fibre cells. It is the result of either metabolic stress or muscular tension. Metabolic stress is caused by exercising at a high intensity, which activates inducible agents such as IGF-1. IGF-1 binds to its receptor, the tyrosine kinase IGF1 receptor (IGF1R), which increases the activation of the downstream phosphatidylinositol-3 kinase (PI3K)/Akt pathway, increasing the rate of protein synthesis. Muscular tension is when resistance training creates localised damage to muscle tissue.
Bodybuilders maximise muscle mass in both types of fibres. Muscle hypertrophy is typically experienced after 6 to 7 weeks of resistance training. Conversely, muscle atrophy resulting from disuse occurs primarily in type 2 fibres.
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Hypertrophy occurs in response to a higher load on the muscle
Hypertrophy is an increase in cell size without cell division (and usually without DNA synthesis). It is the process of increasing muscle mass by increasing the size of muscle-fibre cells. This is also known as an increase in muscle fibre cross-sectional area that is accompanied by an increase in muscle volume and mass. Type 2A fibres exhibit the greatest growth, more so than type 2B and type 1 fibres.
Hypertrophy is the result of either metabolic stress or muscular tension. Metabolic stress is born from exercising at high intensity. At high intensity, we are unable to use our oxygen pathways to deliver the energy required for a set of exercises, so we turn to our anaerobic pathways, which produce metabolites. Muscular tension is when resistance training creates localised damage to muscle tissue.
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Hypertrophy is defined as an increase in cell size without cell division
Hypertrophy occurs when the rate of protein synthesis within the muscle is greater than the rate of decay. This can be the result of metabolic stress or muscular tension. Metabolic stress occurs when exercising at a high intensity, which means that our oxygen pathways cannot deliver the energy required for a set of exercises, so we turn to our anaerobic pathways, which produce metabolites. Muscular tension is when resistance training creates localised damage to muscle tissue.
Muscle hypertrophy is not to be confused with hyperplasia, which is the increase of skeletal muscle fibre number.
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Frequently asked questions
Hypertrophy is the process of increasing muscle mass by increasing the size of muscle-fibre cells.
Hypertrophy occurs when the rate of protein synthesis within the muscle is greater than the rate of decay. This can be caused by metabolic stress or muscular tension.
Metabolic stress is caused by exercising at a high intensity, which means we are unable to use our oxygen pathways to deliver the energy required for a set of exercises.
Muscular tension is when resistance training creates localised damage to muscle tissue.
Hypertrophy is not to be confused with hyperplasia, or the increase of skeletal muscle fibre number.











































