D236 Pathophysiology Exam 3 Practice Quiz 2026 |WGU
1. A patient is diagnosed with Syndrome of Inappropriate Antidiuretic Hormone
(SIADH). Which laboratory finding is most consistent with this condition?
A. Urine specific gravity 1.001
B. Serum sodium 155 mEq/L
C. Serum osmolality 320 mOsm/kg
D. Serum sodium 120 mEq/L
Answer: D
Rationale: SIADH involves excessive ADH release, leading to water retention and dilutional
hyponatremia (low serum sodium).
2. Which clinical manifestation is characteristic of Diabetes Insipidus (DI)?
A. Oliguria
B. High urine specific gravity
C. Fluid volume overload
D. Excessive thirst (polydipsia)
Answer: D
Rationale: Diabetes Insipidus is characterized by a deficiency of ADH, causing the kidneys
to excrete large amounts of dilute urine, which triggers compensatory polydipsia.
,3. A patient presents with exophthalmos, heat intolerance, and tachycardia.
Which condition is likely responsible?
A. Hashimoto thyroiditis
B. Myxedema coma
C. Graves’ disease
D. Cushing syndrome
Answer: C
Rationale: Graves’ disease is an autoimmune form of hyperthyroidism that includes
symptoms like bulging eyes (exophthalmos), heat intolerance, and rapid heart rate.
4. Which endocrine disorder is characterized by a ‘moon face,’ ‘buffalo hump,’
and abdominal striae?
A. Addison’s disease
B. Pheochromocytoma
C. Hypothyroidism
D. Cushing syndrome
Answer: D
Rationale: Cushing syndrome results from chronic exposure to excess cortisol, leading to
characteristic fat redistribution (moon face, buffalo hump) and skin thinning (striae).
5. What is the primary pathophysiology of Type 1 Diabetes Mellitus?
A. Autoimmune destruction of pancreatic beta cells
B. Insulin resistance in peripheral tissues
C. Excessive glucagon secretion
D. Decreased glucose absorption in the gut
Answer: A
Rationale: Type 1 Diabetes is an autoimmune disease where the body’s immune system
attacks and destroys the insulin-producing beta cells in the pancreas.
, 6. A patient in Diabetic Ketoacidosis (DKA) is likely to exhibit which respiratory
pattern?
A. Cheyne-Stokes respirations
B. Bradypnea
C. Kussmaul respirations
D. Shallow, rapid breathing
Answer: C
Rationale: Kussmaul respirations are deep, rapid breaths that occur as the body attempts
to blow off carbon dioxide to compensate for metabolic acidosis in DKA.
7. Which condition involves a deficiency of adrenal cortical hormones, often
leading to hyperpigmentation and hypotension?
A. Cushing’s disease
B. Addison’s disease
C. Conn’s syndrome
D. Hyperparathyroidism
Answer: B
Rationale: Addison’s disease is primary adrenal insufficiency, causing low cortisol and
aldosterone, often leading to bronze-colored skin and low blood pressure.
8. A tumor that secretes catecholamines and causes severe episodic
hypertension is known as:
A. Pheochromocytoma
B. Thyroid nodule
C. Pituitary adenoma
D. Insulinoma
Answer: A
Rationale: Pheochromocytoma is a tumor of the adrenal medulla that secretes epinephrine
and norepinephrine, causing hypertensive crises.
1. A patient is diagnosed with Syndrome of Inappropriate Antidiuretic Hormone
(SIADH). Which laboratory finding is most consistent with this condition?
A. Urine specific gravity 1.001
B. Serum sodium 155 mEq/L
C. Serum osmolality 320 mOsm/kg
D. Serum sodium 120 mEq/L
Answer: D
Rationale: SIADH involves excessive ADH release, leading to water retention and dilutional
hyponatremia (low serum sodium).
2. Which clinical manifestation is characteristic of Diabetes Insipidus (DI)?
A. Oliguria
B. High urine specific gravity
C. Fluid volume overload
D. Excessive thirst (polydipsia)
Answer: D
Rationale: Diabetes Insipidus is characterized by a deficiency of ADH, causing the kidneys
to excrete large amounts of dilute urine, which triggers compensatory polydipsia.
,3. A patient presents with exophthalmos, heat intolerance, and tachycardia.
Which condition is likely responsible?
A. Hashimoto thyroiditis
B. Myxedema coma
C. Graves’ disease
D. Cushing syndrome
Answer: C
Rationale: Graves’ disease is an autoimmune form of hyperthyroidism that includes
symptoms like bulging eyes (exophthalmos), heat intolerance, and rapid heart rate.
4. Which endocrine disorder is characterized by a ‘moon face,’ ‘buffalo hump,’
and abdominal striae?
A. Addison’s disease
B. Pheochromocytoma
C. Hypothyroidism
D. Cushing syndrome
Answer: D
Rationale: Cushing syndrome results from chronic exposure to excess cortisol, leading to
characteristic fat redistribution (moon face, buffalo hump) and skin thinning (striae).
5. What is the primary pathophysiology of Type 1 Diabetes Mellitus?
A. Autoimmune destruction of pancreatic beta cells
B. Insulin resistance in peripheral tissues
C. Excessive glucagon secretion
D. Decreased glucose absorption in the gut
Answer: A
Rationale: Type 1 Diabetes is an autoimmune disease where the body’s immune system
attacks and destroys the insulin-producing beta cells in the pancreas.
, 6. A patient in Diabetic Ketoacidosis (DKA) is likely to exhibit which respiratory
pattern?
A. Cheyne-Stokes respirations
B. Bradypnea
C. Kussmaul respirations
D. Shallow, rapid breathing
Answer: C
Rationale: Kussmaul respirations are deep, rapid breaths that occur as the body attempts
to blow off carbon dioxide to compensate for metabolic acidosis in DKA.
7. Which condition involves a deficiency of adrenal cortical hormones, often
leading to hyperpigmentation and hypotension?
A. Cushing’s disease
B. Addison’s disease
C. Conn’s syndrome
D. Hyperparathyroidism
Answer: B
Rationale: Addison’s disease is primary adrenal insufficiency, causing low cortisol and
aldosterone, often leading to bronze-colored skin and low blood pressure.
8. A tumor that secretes catecholamines and causes severe episodic
hypertension is known as:
A. Pheochromocytoma
B. Thyroid nodule
C. Pituitary adenoma
D. Insulinoma
Answer: A
Rationale: Pheochromocytoma is a tumor of the adrenal medulla that secretes epinephrine
and norepinephrine, causing hypertensive crises.
