Question

A heart that has to pump harder in order to effectively circulate blood is likely to undergo which type of cellular adaptation?

Answer 1

Out of the following given choices:

Atrophy

Metaplasia

Hypertrophy

The answer is hypertrophy. Due to the exertion of the heart muscles from increased pumping, the muscles cells enlarge and become bigger than their normal size as an adaptive response. Therefore, ultimately, the heart walls of the heart increase in size (without increase in their numbers as in the case of hyperplasia).