D236 Pathophysiology Week 6 Assessment 2026 |WGU
1. Which type of anemia is characterized by a lack of intrinsic factor, leading to
vitamin B12 malabsorption?
A. Iron deficiency anemia
B. Pernicious anemia
C. Aplastic anemia
D. Sickle cell anemia
Answer: B
Rationale: Pernicious anemia is caused by a lack of intrinsic factor from gastric parietal
cells, which is essential for vitamin B12 absorption in the ileum.
2. A patient presents with Reed-Sternberg cells in a lymph node biopsy. This
finding is characteristic of:
A. Hodgkin Lymphoma
B. Multiple Myeloma
C. Non-Hodgkin Lymphoma
D. Acute Myeloid Leukemia
Answer: A
Rationale: Reed-Sternberg cells are large, multi-nucleated cells that are the hallmark
diagnostic feature of Hodgkin Lymphoma.
,3. Which of the following is a Type I hypersensitivity reaction?
A. Hemolytic disease of the newborn
B. Systemic lupus erythematosus
C. Tuberculin skin test reaction
D. Allergic rhinitis
Answer: D
Rationale: Type I hypersensitivity is IgE-mediated and includes immediate reactions like
allergic rhinitis, asthma, and anaphylaxis.
4. In the General Adaptation Syndrome (GAS), which stage is characterized by
the ‘fight or flight’ response?
A. Resistance stage
B. Alarm stage
C. Exhaustion stage
D. Recovery stage
Answer: B
Rationale: The alarm stage is the initial response to stress, triggering the sympathetic
nervous system and the HPA axis.
5. Which electrolyte imbalance is frequently associated with the release of
parathyroid hormone-related protein (PTHrP) in certain cancers?
A. Hypercalcemia
B. Hypokalemia
C. Hyponatremia
D. Hypomagnesemia
Answer: A
Rationale: PTHrP acts like parathyroid hormone, increasing bone resorption and renal
calcium reabsorption, leading to hypercalcemia of malignancy.
, 6. What is the primary pathophysiology behind Sickle Cell Anemia?
A. Failure of the bone marrow to produce RBCs
B. A point mutation causing hemoglobin S to polymerize under low oxygen
C. Deficiency of iron stores in the liver
D. Antibody-mediated destruction of red blood cells
Answer: B
Rationale: Sickle cell anemia is caused by a genetic mutation where valine replaces
glutamic acid, causing HbS to deform into a sickle shape when deoxygenated.
7. Which clinical manifestation is a hallmark of Chronic Myeloid Leukemia
(CML)?
A. Philadelphia chromosome (t9;22)
B. Bence-Jones proteins in urine
C. Presence of Auer rods
D. Elevated Epstein-Barr virus titers
Answer: A
Rationale: The Philadelphia chromosome, a translocation between chromosomes 9 and 22,
creates the BCR-ABL fusion protein characteristic of CML.
8. A patient with systemic lupus erythematosus (SLE) develops
glomerulonephritis. This is an example of which hypersensitivity?
A. Type I
B. Type III
C. Type II
D. Type IV
Answer: B
Rationale: Type III hypersensitivity involves the deposition of antigen-antibody (immune)
complexes in tissues like the kidneys, causing inflammation.
1. Which type of anemia is characterized by a lack of intrinsic factor, leading to
vitamin B12 malabsorption?
A. Iron deficiency anemia
B. Pernicious anemia
C. Aplastic anemia
D. Sickle cell anemia
Answer: B
Rationale: Pernicious anemia is caused by a lack of intrinsic factor from gastric parietal
cells, which is essential for vitamin B12 absorption in the ileum.
2. A patient presents with Reed-Sternberg cells in a lymph node biopsy. This
finding is characteristic of:
A. Hodgkin Lymphoma
B. Multiple Myeloma
C. Non-Hodgkin Lymphoma
D. Acute Myeloid Leukemia
Answer: A
Rationale: Reed-Sternberg cells are large, multi-nucleated cells that are the hallmark
diagnostic feature of Hodgkin Lymphoma.
,3. Which of the following is a Type I hypersensitivity reaction?
A. Hemolytic disease of the newborn
B. Systemic lupus erythematosus
C. Tuberculin skin test reaction
D. Allergic rhinitis
Answer: D
Rationale: Type I hypersensitivity is IgE-mediated and includes immediate reactions like
allergic rhinitis, asthma, and anaphylaxis.
4. In the General Adaptation Syndrome (GAS), which stage is characterized by
the ‘fight or flight’ response?
A. Resistance stage
B. Alarm stage
C. Exhaustion stage
D. Recovery stage
Answer: B
Rationale: The alarm stage is the initial response to stress, triggering the sympathetic
nervous system and the HPA axis.
5. Which electrolyte imbalance is frequently associated with the release of
parathyroid hormone-related protein (PTHrP) in certain cancers?
A. Hypercalcemia
B. Hypokalemia
C. Hyponatremia
D. Hypomagnesemia
Answer: A
Rationale: PTHrP acts like parathyroid hormone, increasing bone resorption and renal
calcium reabsorption, leading to hypercalcemia of malignancy.
, 6. What is the primary pathophysiology behind Sickle Cell Anemia?
A. Failure of the bone marrow to produce RBCs
B. A point mutation causing hemoglobin S to polymerize under low oxygen
C. Deficiency of iron stores in the liver
D. Antibody-mediated destruction of red blood cells
Answer: B
Rationale: Sickle cell anemia is caused by a genetic mutation where valine replaces
glutamic acid, causing HbS to deform into a sickle shape when deoxygenated.
7. Which clinical manifestation is a hallmark of Chronic Myeloid Leukemia
(CML)?
A. Philadelphia chromosome (t9;22)
B. Bence-Jones proteins in urine
C. Presence of Auer rods
D. Elevated Epstein-Barr virus titers
Answer: A
Rationale: The Philadelphia chromosome, a translocation between chromosomes 9 and 22,
creates the BCR-ABL fusion protein characteristic of CML.
8. A patient with systemic lupus erythematosus (SLE) develops
glomerulonephritis. This is an example of which hypersensitivity?
A. Type I
B. Type III
C. Type II
D. Type IV
Answer: B
Rationale: Type III hypersensitivity involves the deposition of antigen-antibody (immune)
complexes in tissues like the kidneys, causing inflammation.
