What is the term used to describe the increase in muscle size?

The term that describes the increase in muscle size is hypertrophy. This physiological process occurs when the fibers in the muscles adapt to resistance training by increasing in size, which can result from various forms of mechanical tension, volume, and metabolic stress during exercise. Hypertrophy is primarily targeted through specific strength training regimens aimed at creating microtears in muscle fibers, leading to muscle repair and growth over time.

Atrophy, on the other hand, refers to the decrease in muscle size and is not applicable in the context of muscle growth. Endurance denotes the ability to sustain prolonged physical activity but does not specifically refer to muscle size. Strength relates to the amount of force a muscle can produce but doesn't necessarily indicate an increase in size; a muscle can become stronger without undergoing hypertrophy. Thus, hypertrophy is the precise term associated with the increase in muscle mass.