WGU D236 OBJECTIVE ASSESSMENT FINAL
VERSION 2/WGU D236 PATHOPHYSIOLOGY
OA FINAL EXAM 2025/2026 WITH ACTUAL
CORRECT QUESTIONS AND VERIFIED
DETAILED ANSWERS |FREQUENTLY TESTED
QUESTIONS AND SOLUTIONS |ALREADY
GRADED A+|NEWEST|GUARANTEED
PASS|LATEST UPDATE
Which of the following is NOT an Upper Respiratory Infection (URI)?
A. Rhinitis
B. Laryngitis
C. Pneumonia
D. Tracheitis
E. Sinusitis
Pneumonia
Overdistention of alveoli resulting in the ability to remove CO2 is called?
A. Bronchitis
B. Emphysema
C.Asthma
D. Pulmonary Embolism
Emphysema
The Space between the lung and membrane is called?
A. Bronchioles
1|Page
,B. Alveoli
C. Larynx
D. Pleural Cavity
Pleural Cavity
Pleural effusion caused by increased hydrostatic pressure is called what?
A. Exudative
B. Pheumonic
C. Transudative
D. Oxidative
Transudative
Name at least two pulmonary vasculature related disorders and the main distinguishing
characteristics of each disorder you chose.
Pulmonary edema is the fluid around the alveoli which inhibits the oxygen transfer oat the
alveolar capillary interface.
Pulmonary embolism is a clot that has traveled to the pulmonary arterial circulation and causes
obstruction of the arterial blood flow through the lungs.
Describe the general pathophysiology of the Acute respiratory distress syndrome(ARDS).
A damage to the alveolar lining results in diffuse alveolar damage. The damage results in release
of the proinflammatory cytokines.
The cytokines recruit neutrophils to the lungs. The neutrophils activate and release toxic
mediators.
These mediators damage the alveolar epithelium and capillary endothelium. Inflammation leads
to the breakdown of the surfactant that normally helps keep the air sacs open.
This results in the impairment of gas exchange, lung expandability and pulmonary arterial
pressure.
Describe how the lungs and particularly alveoli are affected in COVID- 19 ?
As the SarsCoV2 virus travels through the airways, it infiltrates the alveolar pneumocytes. The
virus permeates this sac.
2|Page
,The cells will eventually experience apoptosis of all the alveolar neighboring cells. Diffused
alveolar damage is observed.
The damage from DAD combines to produce a form of debris called hyaline membranes. This is
a key pathologic feature of the COVID.
The thickening of the alveolar wall impedes diffusion of oxygen into the capillaries making it
difficult for patients to breathe.
An imbalance of secretions can lead to GI issues. Which of these blocks the function of parietal
cells?
A. Gastrin
B. Endoscopy
C. Histamine
D. PPIs (Proton Pump Inhibitors)
Histamine
This disease is caused by pathological changes in the wall of the colon and predisposes to colon
cancer.
A. Esophageal varices
B. Dyspepsia
C. Crohn's disease
D. Ulcerative Colitis
Ulcerative Colitis
What is cirrhosis and how does it develop?
What are four potential detrimental effects that can result from cirrhosis?
How does each of these affect a patient systemically?
Hepatitis and chronic alcohol use are common causes of Cirrhosis of the liver. Liver diseases
cause liver cells to become damaged and die.
Scar tissue replaces liver cells and affects the function of the liver leading to cirrhosis.
Cirrhosis can lead to esophageal Varices, which are engorged varicose veins on the low
3|Page
, esophagus caused by congestions and hypertension in the liver. This pressure causes the veins
to weaken and potentially rupture.
Cirrhosis also causes a decrease in bile, which affects lipids digestion and absorption,
hyperbilirubinemia, which can lead to jaundice, inability to detoxify the blood, decrease in
synthesis of clotting factors, which can lead to excessive bleeding and hepatic encephalopathy
causing confusion and impaired cognition..
Cirrhosis is the formation of liver scar tissue as a result of multiple hepatocyte injuries and
repair efforts. When hepatocytes are injured, stellate cells are stimulated and create
collagenous fibrous tissue in an effort to repair the injury.
Hepatocytes do not function properly in cases of cirrhosis leading to the following examples
(among others):
• Inability to detoxify compounds in blood - increased toxin exposure
• Decreased bile - decreased lipid digestion and absorption
• Hyperbilirubinemia - jaundice
• Bleeding resulting from portal hypertension
• Decreased synthesis of clotting factors - excessive bleeding
• Hepatic encephalopathy - confusion, impaired cognition
What are the three types of jaundice that may present as a result of liver dysfunction?
Describe the cause of each.
• Prehepatic jaundice - excessive hemolysis resulting in bilirubin quantities above what the liver
can conjugate
• Intrahepatic jaundice- direct injury to hepatocytes resulting in bilirubin not being conjugated
• Posthepatic jaundice - bile duct obstruction resulting in conjugated bilirubin building up in the
blood
What is cholestasis?
What are the two types of cholestasis and how do they differ?
Cholestasis is the significant reduction of bile secretion and flow.
4|Page
VERSION 2/WGU D236 PATHOPHYSIOLOGY
OA FINAL EXAM 2025/2026 WITH ACTUAL
CORRECT QUESTIONS AND VERIFIED
DETAILED ANSWERS |FREQUENTLY TESTED
QUESTIONS AND SOLUTIONS |ALREADY
GRADED A+|NEWEST|GUARANTEED
PASS|LATEST UPDATE
Which of the following is NOT an Upper Respiratory Infection (URI)?
A. Rhinitis
B. Laryngitis
C. Pneumonia
D. Tracheitis
E. Sinusitis
Pneumonia
Overdistention of alveoli resulting in the ability to remove CO2 is called?
A. Bronchitis
B. Emphysema
C.Asthma
D. Pulmonary Embolism
Emphysema
The Space between the lung and membrane is called?
A. Bronchioles
1|Page
,B. Alveoli
C. Larynx
D. Pleural Cavity
Pleural Cavity
Pleural effusion caused by increased hydrostatic pressure is called what?
A. Exudative
B. Pheumonic
C. Transudative
D. Oxidative
Transudative
Name at least two pulmonary vasculature related disorders and the main distinguishing
characteristics of each disorder you chose.
Pulmonary edema is the fluid around the alveoli which inhibits the oxygen transfer oat the
alveolar capillary interface.
Pulmonary embolism is a clot that has traveled to the pulmonary arterial circulation and causes
obstruction of the arterial blood flow through the lungs.
Describe the general pathophysiology of the Acute respiratory distress syndrome(ARDS).
A damage to the alveolar lining results in diffuse alveolar damage. The damage results in release
of the proinflammatory cytokines.
The cytokines recruit neutrophils to the lungs. The neutrophils activate and release toxic
mediators.
These mediators damage the alveolar epithelium and capillary endothelium. Inflammation leads
to the breakdown of the surfactant that normally helps keep the air sacs open.
This results in the impairment of gas exchange, lung expandability and pulmonary arterial
pressure.
Describe how the lungs and particularly alveoli are affected in COVID- 19 ?
As the SarsCoV2 virus travels through the airways, it infiltrates the alveolar pneumocytes. The
virus permeates this sac.
2|Page
,The cells will eventually experience apoptosis of all the alveolar neighboring cells. Diffused
alveolar damage is observed.
The damage from DAD combines to produce a form of debris called hyaline membranes. This is
a key pathologic feature of the COVID.
The thickening of the alveolar wall impedes diffusion of oxygen into the capillaries making it
difficult for patients to breathe.
An imbalance of secretions can lead to GI issues. Which of these blocks the function of parietal
cells?
A. Gastrin
B. Endoscopy
C. Histamine
D. PPIs (Proton Pump Inhibitors)
Histamine
This disease is caused by pathological changes in the wall of the colon and predisposes to colon
cancer.
A. Esophageal varices
B. Dyspepsia
C. Crohn's disease
D. Ulcerative Colitis
Ulcerative Colitis
What is cirrhosis and how does it develop?
What are four potential detrimental effects that can result from cirrhosis?
How does each of these affect a patient systemically?
Hepatitis and chronic alcohol use are common causes of Cirrhosis of the liver. Liver diseases
cause liver cells to become damaged and die.
Scar tissue replaces liver cells and affects the function of the liver leading to cirrhosis.
Cirrhosis can lead to esophageal Varices, which are engorged varicose veins on the low
3|Page
, esophagus caused by congestions and hypertension in the liver. This pressure causes the veins
to weaken and potentially rupture.
Cirrhosis also causes a decrease in bile, which affects lipids digestion and absorption,
hyperbilirubinemia, which can lead to jaundice, inability to detoxify the blood, decrease in
synthesis of clotting factors, which can lead to excessive bleeding and hepatic encephalopathy
causing confusion and impaired cognition..
Cirrhosis is the formation of liver scar tissue as a result of multiple hepatocyte injuries and
repair efforts. When hepatocytes are injured, stellate cells are stimulated and create
collagenous fibrous tissue in an effort to repair the injury.
Hepatocytes do not function properly in cases of cirrhosis leading to the following examples
(among others):
• Inability to detoxify compounds in blood - increased toxin exposure
• Decreased bile - decreased lipid digestion and absorption
• Hyperbilirubinemia - jaundice
• Bleeding resulting from portal hypertension
• Decreased synthesis of clotting factors - excessive bleeding
• Hepatic encephalopathy - confusion, impaired cognition
What are the three types of jaundice that may present as a result of liver dysfunction?
Describe the cause of each.
• Prehepatic jaundice - excessive hemolysis resulting in bilirubin quantities above what the liver
can conjugate
• Intrahepatic jaundice- direct injury to hepatocytes resulting in bilirubin not being conjugated
• Posthepatic jaundice - bile duct obstruction resulting in conjugated bilirubin building up in the
blood
What is cholestasis?
What are the two types of cholestasis and how do they differ?
Cholestasis is the significant reduction of bile secretion and flow.
4|Page
