⭐WGU Pathophysiology D236 — Practice
Objective Assessment (Original Questions
+ Correct Answers + Rationales)
1. A patient has a genetic mutation that impairs the
function of sodium-potassium ATPase pumps. Which
cellular consequence is most likely?
A. Increased intracellular potassium
B. Cellular swelling
C. Increased ATP production
D. Decreased sodium inside the cell
Correct Answer: B
Rationale: ATPase pump failure leads to sodium accumulation inside the cell → water follows
→ cellular swelling.
2. A patient with chronic hypoxia develops increased
production of red blood cells. This is an example of:
A. Hypertrophy
B. Hyperplasia
C. Metaplasia
D. Dysplasia
Correct Answer: B
Rationale: Hypoxia stimulates erythropoietin → hyperplasia of RBCs.
3. Which electrolyte imbalance is most associated with
ventricular dysrhythmias?
,A. Hyperkalemia
B. Hypocalcemia
C. Hypermagnesemia
D. Hypokalemia
Correct Answer: A
Rationale: High potassium alters cardiac conduction → life-threatening arrhythmias.
4. A patient with COPD retains CO₂. What acid-base
imbalance is expected?
A. Respiratory alkalosis
B. Metabolic acidosis
C. Respiratory acidosis
D. Metabolic alkalosis
Correct Answer: C
Rationale: CO₂ retention = increased carbonic acid → respiratory acidosis.
5. Which of the following is a hallmark of apoptosis?
A. Cellular lysis
B. Inflammatory response
C. Cell shrinkage
D. ATP depletion
Correct Answer: C
Rationale: Apoptosis = controlled cell death → cell shrinkage without inflammation.
6. A patient has fluid accumulation in the interstitial
space due to low albumin. What mechanism is
responsible?
A. Increased hydrostatic pressure
B. Decreased oncotic pressure
, C. Increased osmotic pressure
D. Low filtration rate
Correct Answer: B
Rationale: Albumin maintains plasma oncotic pressure → low levels → edema.
7. Which hormone compensates during early heart failure
to maintain cardiac output?
A. ADH
B. Aldosterone
C. Epinephrine
D. Natriuretic peptide
Correct Answer: C
Rationale: SNS activation releases epinephrine, increasing HR and contractility.
8. A deep vein thrombosis is primarily composed of:
A. Platelets
B. Fibrin and RBCs
C. Neutrophils
D. Calcium deposits
Correct Answer: B
Rationale: Venous clots = RBC-rich fibrin clots.
9. A patient with type I diabetes has hyperglycemia
despite taking insulin. What mechanism explains this?
A. Increased insulin sensitivity
B. Decreased GLUT4 transport
C. Excess glucagon release
D. Decreased renal glucose reabsorption
Objective Assessment (Original Questions
+ Correct Answers + Rationales)
1. A patient has a genetic mutation that impairs the
function of sodium-potassium ATPase pumps. Which
cellular consequence is most likely?
A. Increased intracellular potassium
B. Cellular swelling
C. Increased ATP production
D. Decreased sodium inside the cell
Correct Answer: B
Rationale: ATPase pump failure leads to sodium accumulation inside the cell → water follows
→ cellular swelling.
2. A patient with chronic hypoxia develops increased
production of red blood cells. This is an example of:
A. Hypertrophy
B. Hyperplasia
C. Metaplasia
D. Dysplasia
Correct Answer: B
Rationale: Hypoxia stimulates erythropoietin → hyperplasia of RBCs.
3. Which electrolyte imbalance is most associated with
ventricular dysrhythmias?
,A. Hyperkalemia
B. Hypocalcemia
C. Hypermagnesemia
D. Hypokalemia
Correct Answer: A
Rationale: High potassium alters cardiac conduction → life-threatening arrhythmias.
4. A patient with COPD retains CO₂. What acid-base
imbalance is expected?
A. Respiratory alkalosis
B. Metabolic acidosis
C. Respiratory acidosis
D. Metabolic alkalosis
Correct Answer: C
Rationale: CO₂ retention = increased carbonic acid → respiratory acidosis.
5. Which of the following is a hallmark of apoptosis?
A. Cellular lysis
B. Inflammatory response
C. Cell shrinkage
D. ATP depletion
Correct Answer: C
Rationale: Apoptosis = controlled cell death → cell shrinkage without inflammation.
6. A patient has fluid accumulation in the interstitial
space due to low albumin. What mechanism is
responsible?
A. Increased hydrostatic pressure
B. Decreased oncotic pressure
, C. Increased osmotic pressure
D. Low filtration rate
Correct Answer: B
Rationale: Albumin maintains plasma oncotic pressure → low levels → edema.
7. Which hormone compensates during early heart failure
to maintain cardiac output?
A. ADH
B. Aldosterone
C. Epinephrine
D. Natriuretic peptide
Correct Answer: C
Rationale: SNS activation releases epinephrine, increasing HR and contractility.
8. A deep vein thrombosis is primarily composed of:
A. Platelets
B. Fibrin and RBCs
C. Neutrophils
D. Calcium deposits
Correct Answer: B
Rationale: Venous clots = RBC-rich fibrin clots.
9. A patient with type I diabetes has hyperglycemia
despite taking insulin. What mechanism explains this?
A. Increased insulin sensitivity
B. Decreased GLUT4 transport
C. Excess glucagon release
D. Decreased renal glucose reabsorption
