Which term describes the increase in the size of an organ or tissue?

The term that describes the increase in the size of an organ or tissue is hypertrophy. Hypertrophy occurs when individual cells increase in size, leading to an overall enlargement of the affected organ or tissue. This is often seen in muscles, such as when skeletal muscle fibers grow larger in response to strength training.

In contrast, hyperplasia refers to an increase in the number of cells within a tissue or organ, which can also lead to enlargement but through a different mechanism. Atrophy is the reduction in the size of an organ or tissue, often due to a decrease in cell size or number, typically as a result of disuse or a reduction in blood supply. Neoplasia relates to the abnormal growth of cells, which may be benign or malignant, but does not specifically refer to the increase in size of the organ or tissue due to normal processes. Therefore, hypertrophy is the most accurate term for describing the specific increase in size of an organ or tissue.