Figure 1. Schematic overview of the development of concentric hypertrophy with the parallel addition of sarcomeres in pressure overload and of eccentric hypertrophy with a series addition of sarcomeres in volume overload.

Chamber enlargement increases systolic wall stress in volume overload (dashed black arrow indicates positive feedback). Wall thickening induces concentric hypertrophy in pressure overload and contributes to eccentric hypertrophy in volume overload (blue arrow). Concentric hypertrophy reduces systolic wall stress in pressure overload, and eccentric hypertrophy reduces diastolic wall stress in volume overload (dashed red lines indicate negative feedback).