WGU D236 PATHOPHYSIOLOGY STUDY
GUIDE 2026 COMPREHENSIVE QUESTIONS
AND STEP BY STEP SOLUTIONS
◉ Upper respiratory tract infection
Answer: common cold, laryngitis, croup, pharyngitis, rhinitis,
sinusitis, and tonsillitis
◉ lower respiratory tract infection
Answer: pneumonia, bronchitis, tuberculosis
◉ conditions that lead to COPD
Answer: smoking, asthma, dust, chemicals, genetics
◉ pnemonia
Answer: an inflammation in the lung caused by infection from
bacteria, viruses, fungi, or parasites, or resulting from aspiration of
chemicals. Hear crackles and rhonchi.
◉ Asthma
Answer: treatment resistant bronchospasm, same category of COPD
, ◉ pneumothorax
Answer: air in the pleural cavity caused by a puncture of the lung or
chest wall
◉ cor pulmonale
Answer: right-sided heart failure arising from chronic lung disease
◉ Coal Worker's Pneumoconiosis
Answer: Carbon dust, seen in coal miners. Massive exposure leads to
diffuse fibrosis('black lung')
◉ common characteristics of chronic digestive system disorders
Answer: (Celiac, Chron's, Colitis...) Abdominal pain, weight loss,
changes in urination/bowel movements, bleeding, diarrhea, n/v....
◉ common characteristics of acute digestive system disorders
Answer: (GERD, IBS, Hiatal hernia...) Abd pain, bleeding, bloating,
diarrhea, heartburn, n/v
◉ pyelonephritis
Answer: Inflammation of the renal pelvis and kidney; caused by
bacterial infection (commonly E. Coli)
GUIDE 2026 COMPREHENSIVE QUESTIONS
AND STEP BY STEP SOLUTIONS
◉ Upper respiratory tract infection
Answer: common cold, laryngitis, croup, pharyngitis, rhinitis,
sinusitis, and tonsillitis
◉ lower respiratory tract infection
Answer: pneumonia, bronchitis, tuberculosis
◉ conditions that lead to COPD
Answer: smoking, asthma, dust, chemicals, genetics
◉ pnemonia
Answer: an inflammation in the lung caused by infection from
bacteria, viruses, fungi, or parasites, or resulting from aspiration of
chemicals. Hear crackles and rhonchi.
◉ Asthma
Answer: treatment resistant bronchospasm, same category of COPD
, ◉ pneumothorax
Answer: air in the pleural cavity caused by a puncture of the lung or
chest wall
◉ cor pulmonale
Answer: right-sided heart failure arising from chronic lung disease
◉ Coal Worker's Pneumoconiosis
Answer: Carbon dust, seen in coal miners. Massive exposure leads to
diffuse fibrosis('black lung')
◉ common characteristics of chronic digestive system disorders
Answer: (Celiac, Chron's, Colitis...) Abdominal pain, weight loss,
changes in urination/bowel movements, bleeding, diarrhea, n/v....
◉ common characteristics of acute digestive system disorders
Answer: (GERD, IBS, Hiatal hernia...) Abd pain, bleeding, bloating,
diarrhea, heartburn, n/v
◉ pyelonephritis
Answer: Inflammation of the renal pelvis and kidney; caused by
bacterial infection (commonly E. Coli)
