Muscular Development, Hypertrophy or simply… Muscle Growth! - Part 1
Muscular Development, Hypertrophy or simply… Muscle Growth! Part 1
Muscle growth, or hypertrophy is the development of lean tissue. It is the result of an increase in the contractile filaments, which comprise a muscle fiber. Of prime importance are the actin and myosin filaments within a myofibril. These allow for the expression of musculature contraction. Adaptations within these structures are a consequence of contractile demands on the system itself. The increase seen can be viewed grossly through two mechanisms. The first adaptation concerns the addition of myofilaments to the peripheral or outer region of the myofibril, resulting in greater overall fiber diameter. The second adaptation is accomplished through myofibrillar hyperplasia, in that the actual number of myofibrils within a muscle fiber increase (14, 15,). The majority of a muscle fiber is made up of these myofibrils. Therefore increasing their size and number will result in enhanced cross sectional area.
Clearly, It should be simply understood that resistance training increases protein synthesis for up to 24 hours post exercise (16). Protein synthesis is the process by which DNA encodes for the production of amino acids and proteins. The process of anabolism in regards to contractile tissue is literally heightened, resulting in a super compensation effect (an effect which raises structural and contractile tissue to above pre training bout levels). Amino acids are the building blocks of the proteins, which comprise the musculature. An amino acid is characterized by a nitrogen containing group, an acid group, and a variable group. The latter of which can take on 20 different combinations. It is for this reason that a sufficient protein intake is vital to increasing muscular size. That is, a diet rich in amino acids must be supplied in order to augment the supercompensatory process previously described.
Stay Tuned… -Kurt Lee Hurley