WGU D115 Advanced Pathophysiology Exam 2025 – Verified Test Bank with Practice Exam, Detailed Rationales & Study Guide

WGU D115 Advanced Pathophysiology Exam
2025 – Verified Test Bank with Practice
Exam, Detailed Rationales & Study Guide


Cellular Function & Injury (20 Questions)
Question 1: What is the primary cause of cellular swelling during hypoxic injury?
A) Increased mitochondrial ATP production
B) Failure of the sodium-potassium pump
C) Enhanced lysosomal enzyme activity
D) Increased endoplasmic reticulum function
Answer: B
Rationale: Hypoxic injury impairs ATP production, leading to failure of the sodium-potassium
pump. This causes sodium accumulation inside the cell, driving water influx and cellular
swelling (McCance & Huether, 2025, p. 76).

Question 2: Which cellular changes are characteristic of apoptosis? (Select all that apply.)
A) Cell membrane rupture
B) Chromatin condensation
C) Formation of apoptotic bodies
D) Inflammatory response
E) Controlled cell shrinkage
Answer: B, C, E
Rationale: Apoptosis involves controlled cell shrinkage, chromatin condensation, and formation
of apoptotic bodies. Unlike necrosis, it does not cause membrane rupture or inflammation
(McCance & Huether, 2025, p. 82).

Question 3: What is the role of free radicals in cellular injury?
A) Stabilize cell membranes
B) Damage lipids, proteins, and DNA
C) Enhance mitochondrial function
D) Promote ATP synthesis
Answer: B
Rationale: Free radicals cause oxidative stress, damaging lipids, proteins, and DNA, leading to
cellular dysfunction (McCance & Huether, 2025, p. 79).

Question 4: Which process describes programmed cell death in response to DNA damage?
A) Necrosis
B) Apoptosis
C) Autophagy

,D) Pyroptosis
Answer: B
Rationale: Apoptosis is programmed cell death triggered by DNA damage, ensuring controlled
elimination of damaged cells (McCance & Huether, 2025, p. 81).

Question 5: What is a hallmark of reversible cell injury?
A) Mitochondrial rupture
B) Cellular swelling
C) Nuclear fragmentation
D) Cytoplasmic dissolution
Answer: B
Rationale: Cellular swelling due to impaired ion pumps is a hallmark of reversible cell injury,
unlike irreversible changes like nuclear fragmentation (McCance & Huether, 2025, p. 77).

Question 6: Which organelle is primarily affected in ischemic injury?
A) Nucleus
B) Mitochondria
C) Lysosomes
D) Golgi apparatus
Answer: B
Rationale: Mitochondria are critical for ATP production, and ischemia impairs their function,
leading to energy depletion and cell injury (McCance & Huether, 2025, p. 78).

Question 7: What is the primary source of reactive oxygen species in cells?
A) Endoplasmic reticulum
B) Mitochondria
C) Nucleus
D) Peroxisomes
Answer: B
Rationale: Mitochondria generate reactive oxygen species during oxidative phosphorylation,
contributing to cellular injury (McCance & Huether, 2025, p. 80).

Question 8: Which type of necrosis is associated with tuberculosis?
A) Coagulative
B) Liquefactive
C) Caseous
D) Fat
Answer: C
Rationale: Caseous necrosis, characterized by a cheese-like appearance, is typical in
tuberculosis due to granulomatous inflammation (McCance & Huether, 2025, p. 84).

Question 9: What is the result of lysosomal membrane rupture in cellular injury?
A) Enhanced protein synthesis
B) Release of hydrolytic enzymes
C) Increased ATP production
D) Stabilization of cell membrane

, Answer: B
Rationale: Lysosomal rupture releases hydrolytic enzymes, causing autodigestion and cell
damage (McCance & Huether, 2025, p. 83).

Question 10: Which process is involved in cellular adaptation to chronic hypoxia?
A) Atrophy
B) Hypertrophy
C) Hyperplasia
D) Metaplasia
Answer: D
Rationale: Metaplasia, such as squamous metaplasia in the respiratory tract, is an adaptive
response to chronic hypoxia (McCance & Huether, 2025, p. 72).

Question 11: What is a characteristic of irreversible cell injury?
A) Cellular swelling
B) Mitochondrial dysfunction
C) Nuclear pyknosis
D) Fatty change
Answer: C
Rationale: Nuclear pyknosis (shrinkage and condensation) indicates irreversible cell injury,
unlike reversible changes like swelling (McCance & Huether, 2025, p. 77).

Question 12: Which cellular adaptation occurs in skeletal muscle due to chronic exercise?
A) Atrophy
B) Hypertrophy
C) Dysplasia
D) Metaplasia
Answer: B
Rationale: Hypertrophy, an increase in cell size, occurs in skeletal muscle due to chronic
exercise (McCance & Huether, 2025, p. 71).

Question 13: What is the primary mechanism of injury in carbon monoxide poisoning?
A) Oxidative stress
B) Hypoxic injury
C) Chemical toxicity
D) Inflammatory response
Answer: B
Rationale: Carbon monoxide binds hemoglobin, reducing oxygen delivery and causing hypoxic
injury (McCance & Huether, 2025, p. 79).

Question 14: Which electrolyte imbalance contributes to cellular swelling?
A) Hyperkalemia
B) Hyponatremia
C) Sodium accumulation
D) Hypocalcemia
Answer: C