Question

question 2 of 5
an echocardiogram reveals charles, an ultramarathon runner, has an enlarged left ventricle. as this increase in ventricular size is supported by increased blood flow and atp production due to the training charles has undertaken, this increase in heart size demonstrates __________.

• physiological hyperplasia
• pathological hypertrophy
• physiological hypertrophy
• benign neoplasia
• pathological metaplasia

Explanation:

1. Analyze each option:

• Physiological hyperplasia: Involves cell number increase, not size. The heart's ventricular enlargement here is about cell size, so eliminate.
• Pathological hypertrophy: Occurs due to disease/stress (e.g., hypertension). Charles' enlargement is from training (normal adaptation), so not pathological. Eliminate.
• Physiological hypertrophy: Hypertrophy is cell size increase. Training-induced heart growth (increased blood flow, ATP) is a normal, adaptive (physiological) response. This fits.
• Benign neoplasia: Abnormal cell growth (tumor), not related to training-induced heart change. Eliminate.
• Pathological metaplasia: Abnormal cell type change (e.g., in lungs), irrelevant here. Eliminate.

Answer:

C. Physiological hypertrophy