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WGU D236 Pathophysiology 2026.pdf@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
WGU D236 Pathophysiology 2026/2027 –
Final Exam Study Deck
Verified answers and rationales for all key topics (Guaranteed Review Format)
1) How does the body respond to an infection?
Answer: T cells produce cytokines, which stimulate B cells. B cells produce antibodies.
Rationale: T cells orchestrate the adaptive immune response by secreting cytokines. These
cytokines activate B cells to produce antibodies, which target and neutralize pathogens, ensuring
both immediate and long-term immunity.
2) What role do DNA changes play in congenital abnormalities?
Answer: Mutations in genes or chromosomal abnormalities.
Rationale: DNA mutations or chromosomal defects can disrupt normal embryonic development,
leading to structural or functional congenital abnormalities.
3) How does abnormal development lead to congenital abnormalities?
Answer: Alterations of DNA.
Rationale: During development, proper DNA instructions are essential. Any genetic alteration
can interfere with organogenesis and cellular differentiation, resulting in birth defects.
4) How do disruptions in homeostasis affect wellbeing?
Answer: For example, fluid and electrolyte shifts can cause nausea, vomiting, or dysrhythmias.
Rationale: Homeostasis maintains the internal environment. Disruption of fluid or electrolyte
balance can impair cardiovascular, neurological, and gastrointestinal systems, producing clinical
symptoms.
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gy 2026.pdf@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!$$$$$$$$
WGU D236 Pathophysiology 2026.pdf@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
,@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$@
2026.pdf@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!$$$$$$$$$$$
WGU D236 Pathophysiology 2026.pdf@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
5) Explain the RAAS system and its effect on blood pressure.
Answer: Renin-angiotensin-aldosterone system:
Reduced blood flow causes kidneys to release renin
Renin converts angiotensinogen to angiotensin I
Angiotensin I converts to angiotensin II
Angiotensin II causes vasoconstriction and stimulates aldosterone release
Aldosterone causes kidneys to conserve sodium and water
Result: blood pressure is maintained
Rationale: RAAS regulates blood pressure and fluid balance. Activation increases vascular
resistance and blood volume, preserving perfusion to vital organs.
6) What are the laboratory findings of diabetic ketoacidosis (DKA)?
Answer: Increased anion gap, decreased bicarbonate (HCO3).
Rationale: In DKA, insulin deficiency leads to ketone production, causing metabolic acidosis.
This is reflected in lab findings as a low bicarbonate level and an increased anion gap.
7) How do the kidneys compensate for alkalosis?
Answer: Retain hydrogen ions (H+) and excrete bicarbonate (HCO3−).
Rationale: The kidneys correct alkalosis by conserving H+ to acidify the blood and excreting
bicarbonate to lower blood pH, restoring acid-base balance.
8) Which electrolyte increases in untreated acidosis?
Answer: Potassium.
Rationale: In acidosis, hydrogen ions shift into cells, and potassium ions shift out into the blood,
resulting in hyperkalemia.
9) How is West Nile Virus transmitted and what are its severe signs?
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gy 2026.pdf@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!$$$$$$$$
WGU D236 Pathophysiology 2026.pdf@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
2026.pdf@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!$$$$$$$$$$$
WGU D236 Pathophysiology 2026.pdf@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
WGU D236 Pathophysiology 2026/2027 –
Final Exam Study Deck
Verified answers and rationales for all key topics (Guaranteed Review Format)
1) How does the body respond to an infection?
Answer: T cells produce cytokines, which stimulate B cells. B cells produce antibodies.
Rationale: T cells orchestrate the adaptive immune response by secreting cytokines. These
cytokines activate B cells to produce antibodies, which target and neutralize pathogens, ensuring
both immediate and long-term immunity.
2) What role do DNA changes play in congenital abnormalities?
Answer: Mutations in genes or chromosomal abnormalities.
Rationale: DNA mutations or chromosomal defects can disrupt normal embryonic development,
leading to structural or functional congenital abnormalities.
3) How does abnormal development lead to congenital abnormalities?
Answer: Alterations of DNA.
Rationale: During development, proper DNA instructions are essential. Any genetic alteration
can interfere with organogenesis and cellular differentiation, resulting in birth defects.
4) How do disruptions in homeostasis affect wellbeing?
Answer: For example, fluid and electrolyte shifts can cause nausea, vomiting, or dysrhythmias.
Rationale: Homeostasis maintains the internal environment. Disruption of fluid or electrolyte
balance can impair cardiovascular, neurological, and gastrointestinal systems, producing clinical
symptoms.
@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$@
gy 2026.pdf@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!$$$$$$$$
WGU D236 Pathophysiology 2026.pdf@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
,@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$@
2026.pdf@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!$$$$$$$$$$$
WGU D236 Pathophysiology 2026.pdf@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
5) Explain the RAAS system and its effect on blood pressure.
Answer: Renin-angiotensin-aldosterone system:
Reduced blood flow causes kidneys to release renin
Renin converts angiotensinogen to angiotensin I
Angiotensin I converts to angiotensin II
Angiotensin II causes vasoconstriction and stimulates aldosterone release
Aldosterone causes kidneys to conserve sodium and water
Result: blood pressure is maintained
Rationale: RAAS regulates blood pressure and fluid balance. Activation increases vascular
resistance and blood volume, preserving perfusion to vital organs.
6) What are the laboratory findings of diabetic ketoacidosis (DKA)?
Answer: Increased anion gap, decreased bicarbonate (HCO3).
Rationale: In DKA, insulin deficiency leads to ketone production, causing metabolic acidosis.
This is reflected in lab findings as a low bicarbonate level and an increased anion gap.
7) How do the kidneys compensate for alkalosis?
Answer: Retain hydrogen ions (H+) and excrete bicarbonate (HCO3−).
Rationale: The kidneys correct alkalosis by conserving H+ to acidify the blood and excreting
bicarbonate to lower blood pH, restoring acid-base balance.
8) Which electrolyte increases in untreated acidosis?
Answer: Potassium.
Rationale: In acidosis, hydrogen ions shift into cells, and potassium ions shift out into the blood,
resulting in hyperkalemia.
9) How is West Nile Virus transmitted and what are its severe signs?
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gy 2026.pdf@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!$$$$$$$$
WGU D236 Pathophysiology 2026.pdf@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
