WGU D236 pathophysiology: Objective
Assessment Questions and Verified
Answers | Latest 2023/2024 GRADED A+
What-is-Starling's-Law-of-Capillary-forces?
How-does-this-explain-why-a-nutritionally-deficient-child-would-have-edema?
--DDStarling's-Law-describes-how-fluids-move-across-the-capillary-membrane.-There-are-two-major-
opposing-forces-that-act-to-balance-each-other,-hydrostatic-pressure-(pushing-water-out-of-the-
capillaries)-and-osmotic-pressure-(including-oncontic-pressure,-which-pushes-fluid-into-the-capillaries).
Both-electrolytes-and-proteins-(oncontic-pressure)-in-the-blood-affect-osmotic-pressure,-high-
electrolyte-and-protein-concentrations-in-the-blood-would-cause-water-to-leave-the-cells-and-
interstitial-space-and-enter-the-blood-stream-to-dilute-the-high-concentrations.
On,-the-other-hand,-low-electrolyte-and-protein-concentrations-(as-seen-in-a-nutritionally-deficient-
child)-would-cause-water-to-leave-the-capillaries-and-enter-the-cells-and-interstitial-fluid-which-can-lead-
to-edema.
How-does-the-RAAS-(Renin-Angiotensin-Aldosterone-System)-result-in-increased-blood-volume-and-
increased-blood-pressure?
,WGU-D236-pathophysiology-OA-Exam-Study-Guide-2023-Questions-and-Answers
--DDA-drop-in-blood-pressure-is-sensed-by-the-kidneys-by-low-perfusion,-which-in-turn-begins-to-
secrete-renin.
Renin-then-triggers-the-liver-to-produce-angiotensinogen,-which-is-converted-to-Angiotensin-I-in-the-
lungs-and-then-angiotensin-II-by-the-enzyme
Angiotensin-converting-enzyme-(ACE).-Angiotensin-II-stimulates-peripheral-arterial-
vasoconstriction-which-raises-BP.
Angiotensin-II-is-also-stimulating-the-adrenal-gland-to-release-aldosterone,-which-acts-to-increase-
sodium-and-water-reabsorption-increasing-blood-volume,-while-also-increased-potassium-secretion-in-
urine.
How-can-hyperkalemia-lead-to-cardiac-arrest?
--DDNormal-levels-of-potassium-are-between-3.5-and-5.2-mEq/dL.-Hyperkalemia-refers-topotassium-
levels-higher-that-5.2-mEq/dL.
A-major-function-of-potassium-is-to-conduct-nerve-impulses-in-muscles.-Too-low-and-muscle-weakness-
occurs-and-too-much-can-cause-muscle-spasms.
,WGU-D236-pathophysiology-OA-Exam-Study-Guide-2023-Questions-and-Answers
This-is-especially-dangerous-in-the-heart-muscle-and-an-irregular-heartbeat-can-cause-a-heart-attack
The-body-uses-the-Protein-Buffering-System,-Phosphate-Buffering-System,-and-Carbonic-Acid--
Bicarbonate-System-to-regulate-and-maintain-homeostatic-pH,-what-is-the-consequence-of-a-pH-
imbalance
- DDProteins-contain-many-acidic-and-basic-group-that-can-be-affected-by-pH-changes.-Any-increase-or-
decrease-in-blood-pH-can-alter-the-structure-of-the-protein-(denature),-thereby-affecting-its-function-as-
well
Describe-the-laboratory-findings-associated-with-metabolic-acidosis,-metabolic-alkalosis,-respiratory-
acidosis-and-respiratory-alkalosis.-(ie-relative-pH-and-CO2-levels).
- DDNormal-ABGs-(Arterial-Blood-Gases)-Blood-pH:-7.35-7.45-PCO2:-35-45-mm-Hg-PO2:-90-100-mm-Hg-
HCO3-:-22-26-mEq/L-SaO2:-95-100%
Respiratory-acidosis-and-alkalosis-are-marked-by-changes-in-PCO2.-Higher-=-acidosis-and-lower-=-
alkalosis
Metabolic-acidosis-and-alkalosis-are-caused-by-something-other-than-abnormal-CO2-levels.-This-could-
include-toxicity,-diabetes,-renal-failure-or-excessive-GI-losses.
, WGU-D236-pathophysiology-OA-Exam-Study-Guide-2023-Questions-and-Answers
Here-are-the-rules-to-follow-to-determine-if-is-respiratory-or-metabolic-in-nature.--If-pH-and-PCO2-are-
moving-in-opposite-directions,-then-it-is-the-pCO2-levels-that-are-causing-the-imbalance-and-it-is-
respiratory-in-nature.
-If-PCO2-is-normal-or-is-moving-in-the-same-direction-as-the-pH,-then-the-imbalance-is-metabolic-in-
nature.
The-anion-gap-is-the-difference-between-measured-cations-(Na+-and-K+)-and-measured-anions-(Cl--and-
HCO3-),-this-calculation-can-be-useful-in-determining-the-cause-of-metabolic-acidosis.
Why-would-an-increased-anion-gap-be-observed-in-diabetic-ketoacidosis-or-lactic-acidosis?
- DDThe-anion-gap-is-the-calculation-of-unmeasured-anions-in-the-blood.
Lactic-acid-and-ketones-both-lead-to-the-production-of-unmeasured-anions,-which-remove-HCO3--(a-
measured-anion)-due-to-buffering-of-the-excess-H+-and-therefore-leads-to-an-increase-in-the-AG.
Why-is-it-important-to-maintain-a-homeostatic-balance-of-glucose-in-the-blood-(ie-describe-the-
pathogenesis-of-diabetes)?
- DDInsulin-is-the-hormone-responsible-for-initiating-the-uptake-of-glucose-by-the-cells.-Cells-use-
glucose-to-produce-energy-(ATP).
Assessment Questions and Verified
Answers | Latest 2023/2024 GRADED A+
What-is-Starling's-Law-of-Capillary-forces?
How-does-this-explain-why-a-nutritionally-deficient-child-would-have-edema?
--DDStarling's-Law-describes-how-fluids-move-across-the-capillary-membrane.-There-are-two-major-
opposing-forces-that-act-to-balance-each-other,-hydrostatic-pressure-(pushing-water-out-of-the-
capillaries)-and-osmotic-pressure-(including-oncontic-pressure,-which-pushes-fluid-into-the-capillaries).
Both-electrolytes-and-proteins-(oncontic-pressure)-in-the-blood-affect-osmotic-pressure,-high-
electrolyte-and-protein-concentrations-in-the-blood-would-cause-water-to-leave-the-cells-and-
interstitial-space-and-enter-the-blood-stream-to-dilute-the-high-concentrations.
On,-the-other-hand,-low-electrolyte-and-protein-concentrations-(as-seen-in-a-nutritionally-deficient-
child)-would-cause-water-to-leave-the-capillaries-and-enter-the-cells-and-interstitial-fluid-which-can-lead-
to-edema.
How-does-the-RAAS-(Renin-Angiotensin-Aldosterone-System)-result-in-increased-blood-volume-and-
increased-blood-pressure?
,WGU-D236-pathophysiology-OA-Exam-Study-Guide-2023-Questions-and-Answers
--DDA-drop-in-blood-pressure-is-sensed-by-the-kidneys-by-low-perfusion,-which-in-turn-begins-to-
secrete-renin.
Renin-then-triggers-the-liver-to-produce-angiotensinogen,-which-is-converted-to-Angiotensin-I-in-the-
lungs-and-then-angiotensin-II-by-the-enzyme
Angiotensin-converting-enzyme-(ACE).-Angiotensin-II-stimulates-peripheral-arterial-
vasoconstriction-which-raises-BP.
Angiotensin-II-is-also-stimulating-the-adrenal-gland-to-release-aldosterone,-which-acts-to-increase-
sodium-and-water-reabsorption-increasing-blood-volume,-while-also-increased-potassium-secretion-in-
urine.
How-can-hyperkalemia-lead-to-cardiac-arrest?
--DDNormal-levels-of-potassium-are-between-3.5-and-5.2-mEq/dL.-Hyperkalemia-refers-topotassium-
levels-higher-that-5.2-mEq/dL.
A-major-function-of-potassium-is-to-conduct-nerve-impulses-in-muscles.-Too-low-and-muscle-weakness-
occurs-and-too-much-can-cause-muscle-spasms.
,WGU-D236-pathophysiology-OA-Exam-Study-Guide-2023-Questions-and-Answers
This-is-especially-dangerous-in-the-heart-muscle-and-an-irregular-heartbeat-can-cause-a-heart-attack
The-body-uses-the-Protein-Buffering-System,-Phosphate-Buffering-System,-and-Carbonic-Acid--
Bicarbonate-System-to-regulate-and-maintain-homeostatic-pH,-what-is-the-consequence-of-a-pH-
imbalance
- DDProteins-contain-many-acidic-and-basic-group-that-can-be-affected-by-pH-changes.-Any-increase-or-
decrease-in-blood-pH-can-alter-the-structure-of-the-protein-(denature),-thereby-affecting-its-function-as-
well
Describe-the-laboratory-findings-associated-with-metabolic-acidosis,-metabolic-alkalosis,-respiratory-
acidosis-and-respiratory-alkalosis.-(ie-relative-pH-and-CO2-levels).
- DDNormal-ABGs-(Arterial-Blood-Gases)-Blood-pH:-7.35-7.45-PCO2:-35-45-mm-Hg-PO2:-90-100-mm-Hg-
HCO3-:-22-26-mEq/L-SaO2:-95-100%
Respiratory-acidosis-and-alkalosis-are-marked-by-changes-in-PCO2.-Higher-=-acidosis-and-lower-=-
alkalosis
Metabolic-acidosis-and-alkalosis-are-caused-by-something-other-than-abnormal-CO2-levels.-This-could-
include-toxicity,-diabetes,-renal-failure-or-excessive-GI-losses.
, WGU-D236-pathophysiology-OA-Exam-Study-Guide-2023-Questions-and-Answers
Here-are-the-rules-to-follow-to-determine-if-is-respiratory-or-metabolic-in-nature.--If-pH-and-PCO2-are-
moving-in-opposite-directions,-then-it-is-the-pCO2-levels-that-are-causing-the-imbalance-and-it-is-
respiratory-in-nature.
-If-PCO2-is-normal-or-is-moving-in-the-same-direction-as-the-pH,-then-the-imbalance-is-metabolic-in-
nature.
The-anion-gap-is-the-difference-between-measured-cations-(Na+-and-K+)-and-measured-anions-(Cl--and-
HCO3-),-this-calculation-can-be-useful-in-determining-the-cause-of-metabolic-acidosis.
Why-would-an-increased-anion-gap-be-observed-in-diabetic-ketoacidosis-or-lactic-acidosis?
- DDThe-anion-gap-is-the-calculation-of-unmeasured-anions-in-the-blood.
Lactic-acid-and-ketones-both-lead-to-the-production-of-unmeasured-anions,-which-remove-HCO3--(a-
measured-anion)-due-to-buffering-of-the-excess-H+-and-therefore-leads-to-an-increase-in-the-AG.
Why-is-it-important-to-maintain-a-homeostatic-balance-of-glucose-in-the-blood-(ie-describe-the-
pathogenesis-of-diabetes)?
- DDInsulin-is-the-hormone-responsible-for-initiating-the-uptake-of-glucose-by-the-cells.-Cells-use-
glucose-to-produce-energy-(ATP).
