WGU D115 OA ADVANCED PATHOPHYSIOLOGY
READINESS PRACTICE EXAM TEST BANK 13O
Questions And Correct Answers (Verified Answers)
Plus Rationales 2026 Q&A.
1. Left-sided heart failure symptom
A) Peripheral edema
B) Pulmonary edema
C) Jugular venous distention
D) Hepatomegaly
Answer: B
Rationale: Left ventricular dysfunction leads to blood backing up into the
lungs, causing pulmonary congestion and edema.
2. Right-sided heart failure symptom
A) Pulmonary edema
B) Dyspnea
C) Peripheral edema
D) Crackles in lungs
Answer: C
Rationale: Right-sided HF leads to systemic venous congestion, causing
peripheral edema, ascites, and hepatomegaly.
3. Myocardial infarction biomarker
A) CK-MB
B) Troponin I/T
C) Myoglobin
D) LDH
Answer: B
Rationale: Troponin is highly specific for cardiac injury and rises within 3–6
hours post-MI.
4. Atherosclerosis initiation
A) Smooth muscle proliferation
,B) Foam cell formation
C) Endothelial injury
D) Plaque rupture
Answer: C
Rationale: Endothelial injury is the first step, allowing LDL cholesterol to
infiltrate the vessel wall and start plaque formation.
5. Angina pectoris cause
A) Complete coronary artery occlusion
B) Transient myocardial ischemia
C) Pericarditis
D) Valvular stenosis
Answer: B
Rationale: Angina occurs due to temporary oxygen supply-demand
mismatch in the myocardium.
6. S3 heart sound significance
A) Normal finding in adults
B) Volume overload (HF)
C) Valvular stenosis
D) Pericardial friction
Answer: B
Rationale: S3 indicates rapid ventricular filling due to increased volume,
often in HF.
7. Hypertension primary mechanism
A) Decreased renin
B) Increased RAAS activation
C) Increased parasympathetic tone
D) Decreased sympathetic tone
Answer: B
Rationale: RAAS activation causes vasoconstriction and sodium/water
retention, raising BP.
8. Cardiogenic shock hallmark
A) Low cardiac output
B) Hypovolemia
C) Vasodilation
,D) Fever
Answer: A
Rationale: Cardiogenic shock results from pump failure, decreasing tissue
perfusion.
9. Heart failure BNP marker
A) Troponin
B) Brain natriuretic peptide (BNP)
C) CK-MB
D) Myoglobin
Answer: B
Rationale: BNP is released from ventricles in response to stretch and volume
overload.
10. Acute pericarditis sign
A) Friction rub
B) S4 sound
C) S3 sound
D) Edema
Answer: A
Rationale: Inflammation of pericardium causes a characteristic friction rub.
11. STEMI ECG finding
A) ST elevation
B) QRS widening
C) T wave flattening
D) PR depression
Answer: A
Rationale: ST elevation indicates transmural myocardial infarction.
12. Non-STEMI biomarker
A) Troponin
B) Myoglobin
C) CK-MB
D) LDH
Answer: A
Rationale: Troponin elevates in NSTEMI without ST elevation on ECG.
, 13. Virchow’s triad factor
A) Endothelial injury
B) Hypercoagulability
C) Stasis of blood
D) All of the above
Answer: D
Rationale: DVT develops from endothelial injury, stasis, and
hypercoagulable states.
14. Atrial fibrillation complication
A) Pulmonary embolism
B) Stroke
C) Heart failure
D) All of the above
Answer: D
Rationale: Irregular atrial rhythm predisposes to thrombus formation,
causing systemic emboli and HF.
15. Peripheral arterial disease symptom
A) Edema
B) Claudication
C) Pulmonary congestion
D) Bradycardia
Answer: B
Rationale: PAD reduces arterial blood flow, causing exertional leg pain.
16. Aortic stenosis classic sign
A) Systolic ejection murmur
B) Diastolic murmur
C) Pericardial rub
D) S4 only
Answer: A
Rationale: Turbulent flow through stenotic aortic valve produces systolic
murmur.
17. Shock type with vasodilation
A) Hypovolemic
B) Cardiogenic
READINESS PRACTICE EXAM TEST BANK 13O
Questions And Correct Answers (Verified Answers)
Plus Rationales 2026 Q&A.
1. Left-sided heart failure symptom
A) Peripheral edema
B) Pulmonary edema
C) Jugular venous distention
D) Hepatomegaly
Answer: B
Rationale: Left ventricular dysfunction leads to blood backing up into the
lungs, causing pulmonary congestion and edema.
2. Right-sided heart failure symptom
A) Pulmonary edema
B) Dyspnea
C) Peripheral edema
D) Crackles in lungs
Answer: C
Rationale: Right-sided HF leads to systemic venous congestion, causing
peripheral edema, ascites, and hepatomegaly.
3. Myocardial infarction biomarker
A) CK-MB
B) Troponin I/T
C) Myoglobin
D) LDH
Answer: B
Rationale: Troponin is highly specific for cardiac injury and rises within 3–6
hours post-MI.
4. Atherosclerosis initiation
A) Smooth muscle proliferation
,B) Foam cell formation
C) Endothelial injury
D) Plaque rupture
Answer: C
Rationale: Endothelial injury is the first step, allowing LDL cholesterol to
infiltrate the vessel wall and start plaque formation.
5. Angina pectoris cause
A) Complete coronary artery occlusion
B) Transient myocardial ischemia
C) Pericarditis
D) Valvular stenosis
Answer: B
Rationale: Angina occurs due to temporary oxygen supply-demand
mismatch in the myocardium.
6. S3 heart sound significance
A) Normal finding in adults
B) Volume overload (HF)
C) Valvular stenosis
D) Pericardial friction
Answer: B
Rationale: S3 indicates rapid ventricular filling due to increased volume,
often in HF.
7. Hypertension primary mechanism
A) Decreased renin
B) Increased RAAS activation
C) Increased parasympathetic tone
D) Decreased sympathetic tone
Answer: B
Rationale: RAAS activation causes vasoconstriction and sodium/water
retention, raising BP.
8. Cardiogenic shock hallmark
A) Low cardiac output
B) Hypovolemia
C) Vasodilation
,D) Fever
Answer: A
Rationale: Cardiogenic shock results from pump failure, decreasing tissue
perfusion.
9. Heart failure BNP marker
A) Troponin
B) Brain natriuretic peptide (BNP)
C) CK-MB
D) Myoglobin
Answer: B
Rationale: BNP is released from ventricles in response to stretch and volume
overload.
10. Acute pericarditis sign
A) Friction rub
B) S4 sound
C) S3 sound
D) Edema
Answer: A
Rationale: Inflammation of pericardium causes a characteristic friction rub.
11. STEMI ECG finding
A) ST elevation
B) QRS widening
C) T wave flattening
D) PR depression
Answer: A
Rationale: ST elevation indicates transmural myocardial infarction.
12. Non-STEMI biomarker
A) Troponin
B) Myoglobin
C) CK-MB
D) LDH
Answer: A
Rationale: Troponin elevates in NSTEMI without ST elevation on ECG.
, 13. Virchow’s triad factor
A) Endothelial injury
B) Hypercoagulability
C) Stasis of blood
D) All of the above
Answer: D
Rationale: DVT develops from endothelial injury, stasis, and
hypercoagulable states.
14. Atrial fibrillation complication
A) Pulmonary embolism
B) Stroke
C) Heart failure
D) All of the above
Answer: D
Rationale: Irregular atrial rhythm predisposes to thrombus formation,
causing systemic emboli and HF.
15. Peripheral arterial disease symptom
A) Edema
B) Claudication
C) Pulmonary congestion
D) Bradycardia
Answer: B
Rationale: PAD reduces arterial blood flow, causing exertional leg pain.
16. Aortic stenosis classic sign
A) Systolic ejection murmur
B) Diastolic murmur
C) Pericardial rub
D) S4 only
Answer: A
Rationale: Turbulent flow through stenotic aortic valve produces systolic
murmur.
17. Shock type with vasodilation
A) Hypovolemic
B) Cardiogenic
