What is the expected appearance of the QRS complex in a hypertrophied heart?

In a hypertrophied heart, the QRS complex typically shows increased amplitude and duration. This is due to the thicker myocardium (heart muscle), which results from the heart working harder than normal, often due to conditions such as hypertension or valve disease.

The increased muscle mass leads to enhanced electrical activity during cardiac depolarization, which is reflected on the ECG as a greater amplitude of the QRS complex. Additionally, the increase in size of the ventricular muscle can slow down the conduction of electrical impulses, resulting in a longer duration of the QRS complex. Therefore, in cases of ventricular hypertrophy, one can typically expect to see both taller spikes on the ECG (increased amplitude) and a wider duration of the QRS complex, confirming that the heart's electrical conduction is altered due to the structural changes.

This is why the answer indicating increased amplitude and duration is indeed the appropriate response in the context of a hypertrophied heart.