WGU D115 OBJECTIVE ASSESSMENT (OA) EXAM 2026 – COMPLETE STUDY
GUIDE & PRACTICE EXAM BANK | Advanced Pathophysiology | 550+ Verified
Questions with Detailed Rationales | Units 1–7 | NGN-Style Case Studies |
A+ Graded
UNIT 1: CELLULAR INJURY, ADAPTATION, AND GENETICS (Questions 1–40)
1. Which type of genetic disease affects males more frequently than
females?
A) Autosomal recessive
B) Autosomal dominant
C) Sex-linked dominant
D) Sex-linked recessive
Answer D: Sex-linked recessive
Rationale: Since males only have one X and one Y chromosome, if the affected
X chromosome carries the illness, it will be expressed. Females have two X
chromosomes, so a recessive trait on one X is often masked by the other.
,2. In which two conditions are chromosomal abnormalities the leading
known cause?
A) Respiratory disorders and cardiovascular disease
B) Intellectual disability and fetal miscarriage
C) Mental illness and respiratory disorders
D) Cardiovascular disease and mental illness
Answer B: Intellectual disability and fetal miscarriage
Rationale: Chromosomal abnormalities are the leading known cause of
intellectual disability and fetal miscarriage.
3. What are three examples of prenatal diagnostic studies?
A) Drug-sensitivity testing, microscopy of cervical mucosa, and genetic
counseling
B) Chorionic villus sampling (CVS), amniocentesis, and preimplantation genetic
testing (PGT)
C) Ultrasound, maternal serum screening, and fetal monitoring
D) Drug-sensitivity testing, amniocentesis, and fetal monitoring
Answer B: Chorionic villus sampling (CVS), amniocentesis, and
preimplantation genetic testing (PGT)
,Rationale: CVS (performed between weeks 11-14), amniocentesis (evaluates
amniotic fluid), and PGT (performed in vitro) are examples of prenatal
diagnostic studies.
4. Which cellular adaptation is most likely to occur in the left ventricle due
to chronic hypertension?
A) Atrophy
B) Hypertrophy
C) Hyperplasia
D) Metaplasia
Answer B: Hypertrophy
Rationale: Hypertrophy is an increase in cell size in response to increased
workload. Chronic hypertension increases workload on the left ventricle,
causing myocardial cells to hypertrophy.
5. A patient with chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD) develops
squamous metaplasia in the bronchial epithelium. Which of the following
best describes this cellular change?
A) An increase in cell size
B) A reversible replacement of one differentiated cell type with another
C) An increase in the number of cells
, D) A decrease in cell size
Answer B: A reversible replacement of one differentiated cell type with
another
Rationale: Metaplasia is a reversible change in which one differentiated cell
type is replaced by another cell type. In COPD, chronic irritation from smoking
causes ciliated columnar epithelium to be replaced by stratified squamous
epithelium.
6. A 55-year-old patient with a history of gastroesophageal reflux disease
(GERD) develops Barrett's esophagus. This is an example of which cellular
adaptation?
A) Hypertrophy
B) Hyperplasia
C) Metaplasia
D) Dysplasia
Answer C: Metaplasia
Rationale: Barrett's esophagus is a metaplastic change in which the normal
squamous epithelium of the esophagus is replaced by columnar epithelium in
response to chronic acid exposure.
7. Genes are composed of which of the following?
GUIDE & PRACTICE EXAM BANK | Advanced Pathophysiology | 550+ Verified
Questions with Detailed Rationales | Units 1–7 | NGN-Style Case Studies |
A+ Graded
UNIT 1: CELLULAR INJURY, ADAPTATION, AND GENETICS (Questions 1–40)
1. Which type of genetic disease affects males more frequently than
females?
A) Autosomal recessive
B) Autosomal dominant
C) Sex-linked dominant
D) Sex-linked recessive
Answer D: Sex-linked recessive
Rationale: Since males only have one X and one Y chromosome, if the affected
X chromosome carries the illness, it will be expressed. Females have two X
chromosomes, so a recessive trait on one X is often masked by the other.
,2. In which two conditions are chromosomal abnormalities the leading
known cause?
A) Respiratory disorders and cardiovascular disease
B) Intellectual disability and fetal miscarriage
C) Mental illness and respiratory disorders
D) Cardiovascular disease and mental illness
Answer B: Intellectual disability and fetal miscarriage
Rationale: Chromosomal abnormalities are the leading known cause of
intellectual disability and fetal miscarriage.
3. What are three examples of prenatal diagnostic studies?
A) Drug-sensitivity testing, microscopy of cervical mucosa, and genetic
counseling
B) Chorionic villus sampling (CVS), amniocentesis, and preimplantation genetic
testing (PGT)
C) Ultrasound, maternal serum screening, and fetal monitoring
D) Drug-sensitivity testing, amniocentesis, and fetal monitoring
Answer B: Chorionic villus sampling (CVS), amniocentesis, and
preimplantation genetic testing (PGT)
,Rationale: CVS (performed between weeks 11-14), amniocentesis (evaluates
amniotic fluid), and PGT (performed in vitro) are examples of prenatal
diagnostic studies.
4. Which cellular adaptation is most likely to occur in the left ventricle due
to chronic hypertension?
A) Atrophy
B) Hypertrophy
C) Hyperplasia
D) Metaplasia
Answer B: Hypertrophy
Rationale: Hypertrophy is an increase in cell size in response to increased
workload. Chronic hypertension increases workload on the left ventricle,
causing myocardial cells to hypertrophy.
5. A patient with chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD) develops
squamous metaplasia in the bronchial epithelium. Which of the following
best describes this cellular change?
A) An increase in cell size
B) A reversible replacement of one differentiated cell type with another
C) An increase in the number of cells
, D) A decrease in cell size
Answer B: A reversible replacement of one differentiated cell type with
another
Rationale: Metaplasia is a reversible change in which one differentiated cell
type is replaced by another cell type. In COPD, chronic irritation from smoking
causes ciliated columnar epithelium to be replaced by stratified squamous
epithelium.
6. A 55-year-old patient with a history of gastroesophageal reflux disease
(GERD) develops Barrett's esophagus. This is an example of which cellular
adaptation?
A) Hypertrophy
B) Hyperplasia
C) Metaplasia
D) Dysplasia
Answer C: Metaplasia
Rationale: Barrett's esophagus is a metaplastic change in which the normal
squamous epithelium of the esophagus is replaced by columnar epithelium in
response to chronic acid exposure.
7. Genes are composed of which of the following?
