Which statement best describes eccentric hypertrophy?

Which statement best describes eccentric hypertrophy?

• A. Thickened walls with increased contractility.
• B. Smaller chamber with decreased stroke volume.
• C. Enlarged chamber size with increased stroke volume.
• D. No change in chamber size but decreased contractility.

Answer: (C)

Eccentric hypertrophy occurs when the heart adapts to volume overload, causing the ventricle to dilate and enlarge its chamber. This bigger chamber can hold more blood, so end-diastolic volume rises and, via the Frank-Starling mechanism, the stroke volume increases. Wall thickness can increase but not as much as the chamber expands, so the overall chamber size is enlarged with a higher stroke volume, which is the hallmark of this adaptation. In contrast, thickening with a smaller chamber describes concentric hypertrophy; a smaller chamber with reduced stroke volume fits other pathologies, and no chamber change with decreased contractility points to different dysfunction.

Eccentric hypertrophy occurs when the heart adapts to volume overload, causing the ventricle to dilate and enlarge its chamber. This bigger chamber can hold more blood, so end-diastolic volume rises and, via the Frank-Starling mechanism, the stroke volume increases. Wall thickness can increase but not as much as the chamber expands, so the overall chamber size is enlarged with a higher stroke volume, which is the hallmark of this adaptation. In contrast, thickening with a smaller chamber describes concentric hypertrophy; a smaller chamber with reduced stroke volume fits other pathologies, and no chamber change with decreased contractility points to different dysfunction.