What is hypertrtrophic degenerative change?

Hypertrophic degenerative change is a gradually worsening enlargement of tissue or organs as a result of enlarging cells within the tissue or organ, as opposed to increasing amounts of cells. The condition of having such enlarged cells is known as hypertrophy.

Some of the most commonly found forms of hypertrophic conditions can be viewed below. If these conditions steadily get worse, the changes may be described as hypertrophic degenerative changes.

• Muscular Hypertrophy

This is one of the most visible and most common forms of hypertrophy. It occurs within skeletal muscles and is often the result of strength exercises or training. It can be caused by an increase in contractile proteins or sarcoplasmic volume, depending on the particular type of training.

• Ventricular Hypertrophy

This is a growing in the size of the heart's ventricles, which are small cavities or chambers within the heart. Although changes can be healthy or beneficial if they are the result of aerobic or anaerobic exercises, ventricular hypertrophy is usually associated with illness related changes caused by some diseases or high blood pressure.

• Hypertrophic Arthritis

Better known as osteoarthrosis, degenerative joint disease or osteoarthritis, this is a progressive, or degenerative, disorder of joints. It is caused by a gradual loss or reduction of cartilage, resulting in development of cysts and bony spurs around the margins of joints.

As cartilage wears away, bones form areas of abnormal hardening, spurs, and pockets of fluid, so-called subchondral cysts, in the marrow. Osteoarthritis was formerly regarded as a part of aging, caused simply be everyday wear and tear affecting the joints.

Recent research examining cartilage formation, however, has changed this view. Osteoarthritis is now believed to be the result of several different factors, each ultimately contributing to the cartilage damage, Osteoarthritis is classified as primary or secondary, depending on causes.