Which term describes the thickening of the heart muscle, especially the left ventricle, due to chronic hypertension?

Which term describes the thickening of the heart muscle, especially the left ventricle, due to chronic hypertension?

• A. Hypertrophy
• B. Hypertension
• C. Infiltration
• D. Infusion

Answer: (A)

Thickening of the heart muscle in response to chronic high blood pressure is hypertrophy. When systemic pressure stays elevated, the left ventricle must generate more force to overcome the higher afterload. The heart’s muscle cells enlarge in size, leading to a thicker wall—usually a concentric left ventricular hypertrophy, often with a smaller chamber. This is an adaptive remodeling to reduce wall stress and maintain pumping effectiveness, though it can eventually lead to diastolic dysfunction if the pressure load persists. The other terms don’t describe this process: hypertension is the condition causing the change, infiltration would mean abnormal substances deposited in the tissue, and infusion refers to fluid administration.

Thickening of the heart muscle in response to chronic high blood pressure is hypertrophy. When systemic pressure stays elevated, the left ventricle must generate more force to overcome the higher afterload. The heart’s muscle cells enlarge in size, leading to a thicker wall—usually a concentric left ventricular hypertrophy, often with a smaller chamber. This is an adaptive remodeling to reduce wall stress and maintain pumping effectiveness, though it can eventually lead to diastolic dysfunction if the pressure load persists. The other terms don’t describe this process: hypertension is the condition causing the change, infiltration would mean abnormal substances deposited in the tissue, and infusion refers to fluid administration.