WGU D236 PATHOPHYSIOLOGY FINAL EXAM 2026
LATEST UPDATES QUESTIONS AND CORRECT
VERIFIED ANSWERS ALREADY GRADED A+
What are the two treatments for ESRD? - ANS-Uremic frost from high urea, hypertension from
elevated renin, anemia from lack of EPO, etc.,Kidney transplant and dialysis,Problems that are
commonly associated with ESRD are edema, hypertension and uremic frost.
Edema and hypertension occur due to kidneys not being able to filter water out of the
bloodstream.
Swelling and increased blood pressure result. Uremic frost occurs because urea builds up in
the body and as one sweats urea is deposited on the skin forming crystals as the sweat
evaporates.
Treatments for ESRD are kidney transplant and dialysis.
What are two differences between hemodialysis and Continuous Renal Replacement Therapy
(CRRT)?
Why might CRRT be the preferred treatment over hemodialysis? - ANS-CRRT is slower than
hemodialysis and for longer periods of time (24 hours or longer).
CRRT patients are typically demonstrating signs of acute renal failure, but also are critically ill
or hemodynamically unstable (having trouble maintaining blood pressure)
Why is the Pituitary gland considered the Master gland of the endocrine system?
,Describe any two disorders of your choice that are caused by pituitary gland dysfunction - ANS-
1. The pituitary is considered the master gland because it either makes and secretes or stores
and secretes the majority of the tropic hormones.,
2. Diabetes insipidus is a hypopituitarism disorder in which ADH is not secreted from the
posterior pituitary. This results in kidney malfunction because the nephron will not reabsorb
water, leading to loss of water in the urine and concentration of sodium in the blood.
Dehydration and hyperatremia result.,
3. Syndrome of Inappropriate ADH (SIADH) is the opposite disorder - hyperpituitarism
resulting in excessive secretion of ADH. This can result from brain injury or neurosurgery. ADH
leads to too much reabsorption in the nephrons of the kidneys, concentrating urine and
leading to hypervolemia (fluid overload) and hyponatremia.
Compare hormonal vs neural signals. Comment on the need for these differences based on
the response time required.
Hint: Think about the steroidal vs non-steroidal hormone response to electrochemical signals
fired by neurons - ANS-Both hormonal and neural signals are required for our body to respond
to environmental and developmental changes.
Neuronal responses are almost immediate, allowing responses such as the ability to move
and balance, the 5 senses, and the regulation of autonomic responses.
Hormonal responses are more long term, allowing reactions that can occur over several
minutes or even over several days!
This allows for negative feedback loops to occur to maintain our body's responses over a longer
period.
,Give an example of primary hyperthyroid disease.
Describe the pathophysiology and manifestations of this disease. - ANS-Primary hyperthyroid
disease occurs when thyroid-stimulating antibodies activate the thyroid itself to secrete
excess T3 and T4.
Grave's Disease is a very common example, and manifests with an enlarge thyroid,
nervousness, insomnia, sensitivity to heat, weight loss, and potentially cardiac arrhythmia.
Exophthalmos may also result due to extraocular deposits that push the eyes forward and can
cause edema - this will result in visual impairment if it is prolonged.
Describe the negative feedback loop utilized by the endocrine system with an example of a
marathon runner - ANS-A negative feedback loop occurs when the build up of one molecule
leads to the repression of the response that creates the molecule.
The example of a marathon runner occurs with negative feedback between the hypothalamus
and the metabolic muscles and organs of the body.
The hypothalamus secretes CRF during the marathon, simulating the release of ACTH from the
pituitary. This causes cortisol release from the adrenal gland, ultimately leading to the "fight
or flight" response that stimulates metabolism in the muscles and organs.
The cortisol feeds back to the pituitary, shutting off the stimulus to the adrenal gland, and
thus creating the negative feedback loop.,
When an individual is running in a marathon, the hypothalamus receives signals from the body
that the muscles and organs have extra metabolic needs.
, The hypothalamus secretes corticotrophin-releasing factor (CRF), which stimulates the pituitary
gland.
The pituitary gland secretes ACTH (Adrenocorticotropic hormone), which, in turn, stimulates the
adrenal gland to secrete the hormone cortisol.
As cortisol levels in the bloodstream rise, the pituitary senses the increased level and shuts off
the stimulus to the adrenal gland; this is an example of the endocrine negative feedback system
Why is Diabetic Ketoacidosis (DKA) a more significant problem for Type 1 Diabetes Mellitus than
Type 2 Diabetes Mellitus? - ANS-Type 1 diabetes results from complete lack of insulin whereas
type 2 simply involves insulin resistance.
With complete lack of insulin, glucose cannot be absorbed at all by the tissues, leading to a
"starvation" response from the body. The starvation response leads to the breakdown of fat and
subsequence ketogenesis, resulting in excessive ketone body production.
In contract, there is still some glucose absorption,in Type 2 diabetes, which means the
starvation response is not initiating to the point of excessive ketogenesis.,
DKA is a result of increasing ketone concentration in the bloodstream.
In Type 1 Diabetes, there is no insulin, which causes the body to respond as if it is starving, so
glucagon will be released from the pancreas, leading to rampant lipid breakdown, resulting in a
high level of ketones in the blood.
However, in Type 2 Diabetes, there is still some insulin, though maybe less, and this
concentration will be enough to prevent DKA from occurring.
LATEST UPDATES QUESTIONS AND CORRECT
VERIFIED ANSWERS ALREADY GRADED A+
What are the two treatments for ESRD? - ANS-Uremic frost from high urea, hypertension from
elevated renin, anemia from lack of EPO, etc.,Kidney transplant and dialysis,Problems that are
commonly associated with ESRD are edema, hypertension and uremic frost.
Edema and hypertension occur due to kidneys not being able to filter water out of the
bloodstream.
Swelling and increased blood pressure result. Uremic frost occurs because urea builds up in
the body and as one sweats urea is deposited on the skin forming crystals as the sweat
evaporates.
Treatments for ESRD are kidney transplant and dialysis.
What are two differences between hemodialysis and Continuous Renal Replacement Therapy
(CRRT)?
Why might CRRT be the preferred treatment over hemodialysis? - ANS-CRRT is slower than
hemodialysis and for longer periods of time (24 hours or longer).
CRRT patients are typically demonstrating signs of acute renal failure, but also are critically ill
or hemodynamically unstable (having trouble maintaining blood pressure)
Why is the Pituitary gland considered the Master gland of the endocrine system?
,Describe any two disorders of your choice that are caused by pituitary gland dysfunction - ANS-
1. The pituitary is considered the master gland because it either makes and secretes or stores
and secretes the majority of the tropic hormones.,
2. Diabetes insipidus is a hypopituitarism disorder in which ADH is not secreted from the
posterior pituitary. This results in kidney malfunction because the nephron will not reabsorb
water, leading to loss of water in the urine and concentration of sodium in the blood.
Dehydration and hyperatremia result.,
3. Syndrome of Inappropriate ADH (SIADH) is the opposite disorder - hyperpituitarism
resulting in excessive secretion of ADH. This can result from brain injury or neurosurgery. ADH
leads to too much reabsorption in the nephrons of the kidneys, concentrating urine and
leading to hypervolemia (fluid overload) and hyponatremia.
Compare hormonal vs neural signals. Comment on the need for these differences based on
the response time required.
Hint: Think about the steroidal vs non-steroidal hormone response to electrochemical signals
fired by neurons - ANS-Both hormonal and neural signals are required for our body to respond
to environmental and developmental changes.
Neuronal responses are almost immediate, allowing responses such as the ability to move
and balance, the 5 senses, and the regulation of autonomic responses.
Hormonal responses are more long term, allowing reactions that can occur over several
minutes or even over several days!
This allows for negative feedback loops to occur to maintain our body's responses over a longer
period.
,Give an example of primary hyperthyroid disease.
Describe the pathophysiology and manifestations of this disease. - ANS-Primary hyperthyroid
disease occurs when thyroid-stimulating antibodies activate the thyroid itself to secrete
excess T3 and T4.
Grave's Disease is a very common example, and manifests with an enlarge thyroid,
nervousness, insomnia, sensitivity to heat, weight loss, and potentially cardiac arrhythmia.
Exophthalmos may also result due to extraocular deposits that push the eyes forward and can
cause edema - this will result in visual impairment if it is prolonged.
Describe the negative feedback loop utilized by the endocrine system with an example of a
marathon runner - ANS-A negative feedback loop occurs when the build up of one molecule
leads to the repression of the response that creates the molecule.
The example of a marathon runner occurs with negative feedback between the hypothalamus
and the metabolic muscles and organs of the body.
The hypothalamus secretes CRF during the marathon, simulating the release of ACTH from the
pituitary. This causes cortisol release from the adrenal gland, ultimately leading to the "fight
or flight" response that stimulates metabolism in the muscles and organs.
The cortisol feeds back to the pituitary, shutting off the stimulus to the adrenal gland, and
thus creating the negative feedback loop.,
When an individual is running in a marathon, the hypothalamus receives signals from the body
that the muscles and organs have extra metabolic needs.
, The hypothalamus secretes corticotrophin-releasing factor (CRF), which stimulates the pituitary
gland.
The pituitary gland secretes ACTH (Adrenocorticotropic hormone), which, in turn, stimulates the
adrenal gland to secrete the hormone cortisol.
As cortisol levels in the bloodstream rise, the pituitary senses the increased level and shuts off
the stimulus to the adrenal gland; this is an example of the endocrine negative feedback system
Why is Diabetic Ketoacidosis (DKA) a more significant problem for Type 1 Diabetes Mellitus than
Type 2 Diabetes Mellitus? - ANS-Type 1 diabetes results from complete lack of insulin whereas
type 2 simply involves insulin resistance.
With complete lack of insulin, glucose cannot be absorbed at all by the tissues, leading to a
"starvation" response from the body. The starvation response leads to the breakdown of fat and
subsequence ketogenesis, resulting in excessive ketone body production.
In contract, there is still some glucose absorption,in Type 2 diabetes, which means the
starvation response is not initiating to the point of excessive ketogenesis.,
DKA is a result of increasing ketone concentration in the bloodstream.
In Type 1 Diabetes, there is no insulin, which causes the body to respond as if it is starving, so
glucagon will be released from the pancreas, leading to rampant lipid breakdown, resulting in a
high level of ketones in the blood.
However, in Type 2 Diabetes, there is still some insulin, though maybe less, and this
concentration will be enough to prevent DKA from occurring.
