What is sarcoplasmic hypertrophy?

Sarcoplasmic hypertrophy refers to an increase in the muscle's sarcoplasm and other non-contraction elements within the muscle cells, such as mitochondria, sarcoplasmic reticulum, T-tubules, and enzymes. This type of hypertrophy leads to an increase in muscle size without a proportional increase in muscular strength, as it does not involve an increase in the number of muscle fibers. One way to induce sarcoplasmic hypertrophy is by performing exercises that lead to "the pump," where muscles are temporarily engorged with blood, often achieved through high-rep, lower-intensity workouts 1.