WGU pathophysiology
D236 Exam Rated A+ New
Update
1. A patient’s lab results show sodium 150 mEq/L. Which condition does this
represent?
A. Hyponatremia
B. Hypernatremia
C. Hypokalemia
D. Hyperkalemia
Answer: B. Hypernatremia
Rationale: Normal sodium is 135–145 mEq/L. Levels above 145 indicate
hypernatremia, often caused by dehydration or excessive sodium intake.
2. Which cellular adaptation occurs in a weightlifter’s skeletal muscles?
A. Atrophy
B. Hypertrophy
C. Hyperplasia
D. Dysplasia
Answer: B. Hypertrophy
Rationale: Muscle cells increase in size (hypertrophy) in response to increased
workload.
3. In Type 1 Diabetes Mellitus, the primary cause is:
A. Insulin resistance at the receptor level
B. Autoimmune destruction of pancreatic beta cells
C. Excessive glucagon production
D. Decreased cortisol secretion
,Answer: B. Autoimmune destruction of pancreatic beta cells
Rationale: Type 1 diabetes results from autoimmune loss of insulin-producing beta
cells in the pancreas.
4. Which acid-base imbalance is most likely in a patient with severe diarrhea?
A. Respiratory acidosis
B. Respiratory alkalosis
C. Metabolic acidosis
D. Metabolic alkalosis
Answer: C. Metabolic acidosis
Rationale: Diarrhea causes loss of bicarbonate (HCO₃⁻), leading to metabolic acidosis.
5. Which process occurs during ischemic cell injury?
A. Increased ATP production
B. Cellular swelling due to Na⁺/K⁺ pump failure
C. Decreased intracellular calcium
D. DNA replication
Answer: B. Cellular swelling due to Na⁺/K⁺ pump failure
Rationale: Ischemia reduces ATP, causing failure of ion pumps, sodium accumulation,
and water influx.
6. Which of the following findings would indicate left-sided heart failure?
A. Jugular vein distention
B. Peripheral edema
C. Crackles in the lungs
D. Hepatomegaly
Answer: C. Crackles in the lungs
Rationale: Left-sided failure causes pulmonary congestion and fluid accumulation in
the lungs.
,7. A patient with COPD retains CO₂. What acid-base disturbance would you expect?
A. Metabolic acidosis
B. Respiratory acidosis
C. Metabolic alkalosis
D. Respiratory alkalosis
Answer: B. Respiratory acidosis
Rationale: CO₂ retention increases carbonic acid, lowering pH (acidosis).
8. Which hormone controls water reabsorption in the kidneys?
A. Aldosterone
B. Cortisol
C. Antidiuretic hormone (ADH)
D. Parathyroid hormone (PTH)
Answer: C. ADH
Rationale: ADH increases water reabsorption in the renal collecting ducts.
9. Which of the following describes the mechanism of edema in right-sided heart
failure?
A. Decreased plasma oncotic pressure
B. Increased capillary hydrostatic pressure
C. Lymphatic obstruction
D. Capillary permeability decrease
Answer: B. Increased capillary hydrostatic pressure
Rationale: Blood backs up into systemic circulation, increasing venous pressure and
fluid leakage.
10. What is the underlying mechanism of Graves’ disease?
, A. Destruction of thyroid gland
B. Autoantibodies stimulating TSH receptors
C. Pituitary tumor secreting TSH
D. Iodine deficiency
Answer: B. Autoantibodies stimulating TSH receptors
Rationale: Graves’ disease is an autoimmune hyperthyroidism caused by antibody
stimulation of the thyroid.
11. Which electrolyte is most closely linked to cardiac rhythm disturbances?
A. Sodium
B. Potassium
C. Calcium
D. Magnesium
Answer: B. Potassium
Rationale: Both hypo- and hyperkalemia can lead to dangerous cardiac
dysrhythmias.
12. What is the main difference between benign and malignant tumors?
A. Benign tumors are vascularized
B. Malignant tumors invade nearby tissue and metastasize
C. Benign tumors are always small
D. Malignant tumors have normal cell differentiation
Answer: B. Malignant tumors invade nearby tissue and metastasize
Rationale: Invasiveness and metastasis distinguish malignant neoplasms.
13. A patient’s arterial blood gas shows: pH 7.50, CO₂ 30 mmHg, HCO₃⁻ 24.
What is the condition?
A. Respiratory acidosis
B. Respiratory alkalosis
D236 Exam Rated A+ New
Update
1. A patient’s lab results show sodium 150 mEq/L. Which condition does this
represent?
A. Hyponatremia
B. Hypernatremia
C. Hypokalemia
D. Hyperkalemia
Answer: B. Hypernatremia
Rationale: Normal sodium is 135–145 mEq/L. Levels above 145 indicate
hypernatremia, often caused by dehydration or excessive sodium intake.
2. Which cellular adaptation occurs in a weightlifter’s skeletal muscles?
A. Atrophy
B. Hypertrophy
C. Hyperplasia
D. Dysplasia
Answer: B. Hypertrophy
Rationale: Muscle cells increase in size (hypertrophy) in response to increased
workload.
3. In Type 1 Diabetes Mellitus, the primary cause is:
A. Insulin resistance at the receptor level
B. Autoimmune destruction of pancreatic beta cells
C. Excessive glucagon production
D. Decreased cortisol secretion
,Answer: B. Autoimmune destruction of pancreatic beta cells
Rationale: Type 1 diabetes results from autoimmune loss of insulin-producing beta
cells in the pancreas.
4. Which acid-base imbalance is most likely in a patient with severe diarrhea?
A. Respiratory acidosis
B. Respiratory alkalosis
C. Metabolic acidosis
D. Metabolic alkalosis
Answer: C. Metabolic acidosis
Rationale: Diarrhea causes loss of bicarbonate (HCO₃⁻), leading to metabolic acidosis.
5. Which process occurs during ischemic cell injury?
A. Increased ATP production
B. Cellular swelling due to Na⁺/K⁺ pump failure
C. Decreased intracellular calcium
D. DNA replication
Answer: B. Cellular swelling due to Na⁺/K⁺ pump failure
Rationale: Ischemia reduces ATP, causing failure of ion pumps, sodium accumulation,
and water influx.
6. Which of the following findings would indicate left-sided heart failure?
A. Jugular vein distention
B. Peripheral edema
C. Crackles in the lungs
D. Hepatomegaly
Answer: C. Crackles in the lungs
Rationale: Left-sided failure causes pulmonary congestion and fluid accumulation in
the lungs.
,7. A patient with COPD retains CO₂. What acid-base disturbance would you expect?
A. Metabolic acidosis
B. Respiratory acidosis
C. Metabolic alkalosis
D. Respiratory alkalosis
Answer: B. Respiratory acidosis
Rationale: CO₂ retention increases carbonic acid, lowering pH (acidosis).
8. Which hormone controls water reabsorption in the kidneys?
A. Aldosterone
B. Cortisol
C. Antidiuretic hormone (ADH)
D. Parathyroid hormone (PTH)
Answer: C. ADH
Rationale: ADH increases water reabsorption in the renal collecting ducts.
9. Which of the following describes the mechanism of edema in right-sided heart
failure?
A. Decreased plasma oncotic pressure
B. Increased capillary hydrostatic pressure
C. Lymphatic obstruction
D. Capillary permeability decrease
Answer: B. Increased capillary hydrostatic pressure
Rationale: Blood backs up into systemic circulation, increasing venous pressure and
fluid leakage.
10. What is the underlying mechanism of Graves’ disease?
, A. Destruction of thyroid gland
B. Autoantibodies stimulating TSH receptors
C. Pituitary tumor secreting TSH
D. Iodine deficiency
Answer: B. Autoantibodies stimulating TSH receptors
Rationale: Graves’ disease is an autoimmune hyperthyroidism caused by antibody
stimulation of the thyroid.
11. Which electrolyte is most closely linked to cardiac rhythm disturbances?
A. Sodium
B. Potassium
C. Calcium
D. Magnesium
Answer: B. Potassium
Rationale: Both hypo- and hyperkalemia can lead to dangerous cardiac
dysrhythmias.
12. What is the main difference between benign and malignant tumors?
A. Benign tumors are vascularized
B. Malignant tumors invade nearby tissue and metastasize
C. Benign tumors are always small
D. Malignant tumors have normal cell differentiation
Answer: B. Malignant tumors invade nearby tissue and metastasize
Rationale: Invasiveness and metastasis distinguish malignant neoplasms.
13. A patient’s arterial blood gas shows: pH 7.50, CO₂ 30 mmHg, HCO₃⁻ 24.
What is the condition?
A. Respiratory acidosis
B. Respiratory alkalosis
