WGU D115: ADVANCED PATHOPHYSIOLOGY EXAM QUESTIONS
AND ANSWERS - 100% VERIFIED - LATEST 2026 /2027-
GUARANTEED PASS
1. Q: What is the difference between apoptosis and necrosis? ANSWER
Apoptosis is programmed, controlled cell death that occurs without
inflammation. Necrosis is uncontrolled cell death caused by injury or
hypoxia, which results in inflammation and cellular swelling.
2. Q: Define atrophy. ANSWER A decrease in the size of cells, resulting in a
reduction in tissue mass (e.g., muscle atrophy from lack of use).
3. Q: What is hypertrophy? ANSWER An increase in the size of individual
cells, leading to an increase in tissue mass (e.g., left ventricular
hypertrophy due to hypertension).
4. Q: What is hyperplasia? ANSWER An increase in the number of cells in a
tissue or organ (e.g., endometrial hyperplasia).
5. Q: What is metaplasia? ANSWER The reversible replacement of one
mature cell type by another, often to better withstand stress (e.g.,
squamous metaplasia in the trachea of a smoker).
6. Q: What is dysplasia? ANSWER Disordered growth of cells, often
considered a precancerous condition.
7. Q: What is the "Gate Control Theory" of pain? ANSWER The theory that
non-painful input (such as rubbing a bumped elbow) closes the "gates"
to painful input, which prevents pain sensation from traveling to the
central nervous system.
8. Q: What are the stages of inflammation? ANSWER Vasodilation,
increased vascular permeability, and cellular infiltration (leukocyte
migration).
9. Q: What is the role of histamine in inflammation? ANSWER It causes
vasodilation and increased vascular permeability, leading to redness and
edema.
,10.Q: What is the difference between exudate and transudate? ANSWER
Exudate is an inflammatory fluid with high protein and specific gravity
(due to increased permeability). Transudate is a low-protein fluid caused
by imbalances in hydrostatic or oncotic pressure (e.g., heart failure).
11.Q: What is the purpose of the complement system? ANSWER To
enhance (complement) the ability of antibodies and phagocytic cells to
clear microbes and damaged cells, promote inflammation, and attack
the pathogen's cell membrane.
12.Q: What is the difference between humoral and cell-mediated
immunity? ANSWER Humoral immunity involves B-cells and antibody
production. Cell-mediated immunity involves T-cells (CD4+ and CD8+)
attacking infected or abnormal cells directly.
13.Q: What is an autoimmune disease? ANSWER A condition where the
immune system mistakenly attacks the body's own cells/tissues.
14.Q: What is the hallmark of Type I Hypersensitivity? ANSWER IgE-
mediated reaction (e.g., anaphylaxis, allergic rhinitis) that occurs
immediately upon exposure.
15.Q: What characterizes Type II Hypersensitivity? ANSWER Cytotoxic
reactions mediated by IgG or IgM antibodies that attack specific cell
surfaces (e.g., Goodpasture syndrome, hemolytic anemia).
16.Q: What is Type III Hypersensitivity? ANSWER Immune complex-
mediated reactions (e.g., Lupus, Rheumatoid Arthritis) where antigen-
antibody complexes deposit in tissues.
17.Q: What is Type IV Hypersensitivity? ANSWER Delayed-type
hypersensitivity mediated by T-cells (e.g., Tuberculin skin test, contact
dermatitis).
18.Q: What is oxidative stress? ANSWER An imbalance between free
radicals and antioxidants in the body, which can lead to cellular damage.
19.Q: Define ischemia. ANSWER Inadequate blood supply to an organ or
part of the body, especially the heart muscles.
20.Q: What is reperfusion injury? ANSWER Tissue damage caused when
blood supply returns to the tissue after a period of ischemia, leading to
oxidative stress and inflammation.
, 21.Q: What is the difference between a benign and a malignant tumor?
ANSWER Benign tumors are localized, non-invasive, and slow-growing.
Malignant tumors are invasive (metastatic), fast-growing, and lack
differentiation (anaplasia).
22.Q: What is the TNM staging system for cancer? ANSWER Tumor
(size/invasion), Nodes (lymph node involvement), Metastasis (spread to
distant sites).
23.Q: What is oncogene activation? ANSWER Genetic mutations that cause
normal genes (proto-oncogenes) to become overactive, promoting
uncontrolled cell division.
24.Q: What are tumor suppressor genes? ANSWER Genes (like p53 or
BRCA1/2) that protect cells from cancer; when mutated, they lose this
ability.
25.Q: What is cachexia? ANSWER Complex metabolic syndrome associated
with underlying illness (like cancer), characterized by loss of muscle with
or without loss of fat mass.
26.Q: What is the difference between apoptosis and necrosis regarding
inflammation? ANSWER Apoptosis does not elicit inflammation;
necrosis does.
27.Q: What is hydrostatic pressure? ANSWER The force exerted by a fluid
against a wall; pushes fluid out of capillaries.
28.Q: What is oncotic pressure? ANSWER The pressure exerted by proteins
(specifically albumin) in the blood vessels; pulls fluid into capillaries.
29.Q: What happens in third-spacing? ANSWER Fluid shifts from the
intravascular space into a non-functional space (e.g., peritoneal cavity or
edematous tissue), where it cannot be used by the body.
30.Q: What is hyponatremia? ANSWER Low serum sodium (<135 mEq/L),
often causing cellular swelling (edema).
31.Q: What is hypernatremia? ANSWER High serum sodium (>145 mEq/L),
often causing cellular shrinking (dehydration).
32.Q: What is hypokalemia? ANSWER Low serum potassium (<3.5 mEq/L),
which can cause muscle weakness and cardiac arrhythmias.
AND ANSWERS - 100% VERIFIED - LATEST 2026 /2027-
GUARANTEED PASS
1. Q: What is the difference between apoptosis and necrosis? ANSWER
Apoptosis is programmed, controlled cell death that occurs without
inflammation. Necrosis is uncontrolled cell death caused by injury or
hypoxia, which results in inflammation and cellular swelling.
2. Q: Define atrophy. ANSWER A decrease in the size of cells, resulting in a
reduction in tissue mass (e.g., muscle atrophy from lack of use).
3. Q: What is hypertrophy? ANSWER An increase in the size of individual
cells, leading to an increase in tissue mass (e.g., left ventricular
hypertrophy due to hypertension).
4. Q: What is hyperplasia? ANSWER An increase in the number of cells in a
tissue or organ (e.g., endometrial hyperplasia).
5. Q: What is metaplasia? ANSWER The reversible replacement of one
mature cell type by another, often to better withstand stress (e.g.,
squamous metaplasia in the trachea of a smoker).
6. Q: What is dysplasia? ANSWER Disordered growth of cells, often
considered a precancerous condition.
7. Q: What is the "Gate Control Theory" of pain? ANSWER The theory that
non-painful input (such as rubbing a bumped elbow) closes the "gates"
to painful input, which prevents pain sensation from traveling to the
central nervous system.
8. Q: What are the stages of inflammation? ANSWER Vasodilation,
increased vascular permeability, and cellular infiltration (leukocyte
migration).
9. Q: What is the role of histamine in inflammation? ANSWER It causes
vasodilation and increased vascular permeability, leading to redness and
edema.
,10.Q: What is the difference between exudate and transudate? ANSWER
Exudate is an inflammatory fluid with high protein and specific gravity
(due to increased permeability). Transudate is a low-protein fluid caused
by imbalances in hydrostatic or oncotic pressure (e.g., heart failure).
11.Q: What is the purpose of the complement system? ANSWER To
enhance (complement) the ability of antibodies and phagocytic cells to
clear microbes and damaged cells, promote inflammation, and attack
the pathogen's cell membrane.
12.Q: What is the difference between humoral and cell-mediated
immunity? ANSWER Humoral immunity involves B-cells and antibody
production. Cell-mediated immunity involves T-cells (CD4+ and CD8+)
attacking infected or abnormal cells directly.
13.Q: What is an autoimmune disease? ANSWER A condition where the
immune system mistakenly attacks the body's own cells/tissues.
14.Q: What is the hallmark of Type I Hypersensitivity? ANSWER IgE-
mediated reaction (e.g., anaphylaxis, allergic rhinitis) that occurs
immediately upon exposure.
15.Q: What characterizes Type II Hypersensitivity? ANSWER Cytotoxic
reactions mediated by IgG or IgM antibodies that attack specific cell
surfaces (e.g., Goodpasture syndrome, hemolytic anemia).
16.Q: What is Type III Hypersensitivity? ANSWER Immune complex-
mediated reactions (e.g., Lupus, Rheumatoid Arthritis) where antigen-
antibody complexes deposit in tissues.
17.Q: What is Type IV Hypersensitivity? ANSWER Delayed-type
hypersensitivity mediated by T-cells (e.g., Tuberculin skin test, contact
dermatitis).
18.Q: What is oxidative stress? ANSWER An imbalance between free
radicals and antioxidants in the body, which can lead to cellular damage.
19.Q: Define ischemia. ANSWER Inadequate blood supply to an organ or
part of the body, especially the heart muscles.
20.Q: What is reperfusion injury? ANSWER Tissue damage caused when
blood supply returns to the tissue after a period of ischemia, leading to
oxidative stress and inflammation.
, 21.Q: What is the difference between a benign and a malignant tumor?
ANSWER Benign tumors are localized, non-invasive, and slow-growing.
Malignant tumors are invasive (metastatic), fast-growing, and lack
differentiation (anaplasia).
22.Q: What is the TNM staging system for cancer? ANSWER Tumor
(size/invasion), Nodes (lymph node involvement), Metastasis (spread to
distant sites).
23.Q: What is oncogene activation? ANSWER Genetic mutations that cause
normal genes (proto-oncogenes) to become overactive, promoting
uncontrolled cell division.
24.Q: What are tumor suppressor genes? ANSWER Genes (like p53 or
BRCA1/2) that protect cells from cancer; when mutated, they lose this
ability.
25.Q: What is cachexia? ANSWER Complex metabolic syndrome associated
with underlying illness (like cancer), characterized by loss of muscle with
or without loss of fat mass.
26.Q: What is the difference between apoptosis and necrosis regarding
inflammation? ANSWER Apoptosis does not elicit inflammation;
necrosis does.
27.Q: What is hydrostatic pressure? ANSWER The force exerted by a fluid
against a wall; pushes fluid out of capillaries.
28.Q: What is oncotic pressure? ANSWER The pressure exerted by proteins
(specifically albumin) in the blood vessels; pulls fluid into capillaries.
29.Q: What happens in third-spacing? ANSWER Fluid shifts from the
intravascular space into a non-functional space (e.g., peritoneal cavity or
edematous tissue), where it cannot be used by the body.
30.Q: What is hyponatremia? ANSWER Low serum sodium (<135 mEq/L),
often causing cellular swelling (edema).
31.Q: What is hypernatremia? ANSWER High serum sodium (>145 mEq/L),
often causing cellular shrinking (dehydration).
32.Q: What is hypokalemia? ANSWER Low serum potassium (<3.5 mEq/L),
which can cause muscle weakness and cardiac arrhythmias.
