What is a pathological example of hypertrophy?

Hypertrophy refers to the increase in the size of cells, leading to an increase in the size of an organ or tissue. A pathological example of hypertrophy is the enlargement of the heart due to heart disease. In this case, the heart muscle cells increase in size as a response to chronic stressors, such as high blood pressure or valvular disease, which can impair the heart's ability to function properly. This abnormal growth is not a healthy adaptation but rather a response to detrimental factors, showcasing how the body's mechanisms may lead to further complications in the context of disease.

In contrast, increased muscle size from weightlifting is a normal physiological response to exercise and not classified as pathological. The growth of new cells during pregnancy and the normal growth of bone are also examples of physiological adaptations that occur under healthy conditions and are not indicative of disease. Thus, only the enlargement of the heart due to heart disease aligns with the definition of pathological hypertrophy.