What is hyperplasia?

• A. Decreased cell production
• B. Increased cell production in normal tissue or organs
• C. Abnormal cell growth
• D. Cell death

Answer: (B)

Hyperplasia is an increase in the number of cells in a tissue, caused by higher cell production, which makes the tissue larger. This increase typically happens in response to hormonal or growth signals and can occur in normal tissues (physiologic or compensatory hyperplasia). It’s about more cells, not bigger cells. It’s not about abnormal or cancerous growth (that would be neoplasia), nor about cells dying or tissue shrinking (that would be atrophy or cell death). It’s also different from hypertrophy, where cells get larger but not more numerous. For example, the endometrium can thicken due to estrogen-driven hyperplasia, or the liver can regrow after part is removed, illustrating physiologic and compensatory hyperplasia.