WGU PATHOPHYSIOLOGY ACTUAL EXAM
2026 QUESTIONS WITH ANSWERS GRADED
A+
◉ Intracellular Fluid. Answer: fluid inside of the cell, 2/3 of body
weight
- mainly in muscle cells
◉ Extracellular Fluid. Answer: fluid outside of the cell, 1/3 of bodily
fluids
- blood vessels
- skin tissues
- spinal cord
◉ Diffusion. Answer: Movement of molecules from an area of higher
concentration to an area of lower concentration.
◉ Osmosis. Answer: movement of fluid from an area of lower solute
concentration to a higher concentration
,◉ Filtration. Answer: water and solute movement occurs from an area of
high hydrostatic pressure to an area of low hydrostatic pressure
◉ Osmolality. Answer: the number of osmotically active particles per kg
of water
◉ Hypertonic. Answer: osmolality greater than 300.
◉ Hypotonic. Answer: osmolality less than 300.
- osmotic pressure is more significant in the body
- fluids pulled from body into cell
◉ An isotonic solution. Answer: 0.09% normal saline
◉ Interferons (IFNs). Answer: type of cytokine that signals cells to
increase anti-viral defenses.
- are released by cells that are infected with a virus, causing other cells
to become resistant to the virus
- play a role in tumor suppression
◉ Hypervolemia. Answer: fluid volume overload
,◉ Edema. Answer: swelling of soft tissues because of excess fluid
accumulation
◉ Causes of edema include:. Answer: -Increased hydrostatic (water)
pressure
- Manifestation: High BP and pitting edema
- Renal Failure, Heart Failure
- Decreased colloid osmotic pressure
- low albumin
- cirrhosis, starvation
- bacteria infections/burns
- obstruction of lymphatic system (cancer or infection)
◉ Symptoms of edema include:. Answer: - weight gain
- hypertension
- jugular vein distention
- ALOC (altered level of consciousness)
- weakness
- increased urine output / or decreased in patients with renal failure
- Rapid RR (resp rate)
- shallow RR
- fluid in lungs
, - diarrhea, hepatomegaly (enlarged liver), ascites
- low lab values
◉ Hypovolemia. Answer: fluid volume deficit
◉ Symptoms of hypovolemia include:. Answer: - vomiting
- diarrhea
- hot body & sweating
- fever
- heat stroke
- thyroid crisis
- urination
◉ diabetes insipidus (DI). Answer: insufficient secretion of antidiuretic
hormone (vasopressin)
◉ Diabetes Ketoacidosis (DKA). Answer: -primary complication of type
1 diabetes
-the body produces excess ketones into the blood
-also referred to as diabetic acidosis or diabetic coma
◉ Diuretics. Answer: medications that reduce fluid volume in the body
2026 QUESTIONS WITH ANSWERS GRADED
A+
◉ Intracellular Fluid. Answer: fluid inside of the cell, 2/3 of body
weight
- mainly in muscle cells
◉ Extracellular Fluid. Answer: fluid outside of the cell, 1/3 of bodily
fluids
- blood vessels
- skin tissues
- spinal cord
◉ Diffusion. Answer: Movement of molecules from an area of higher
concentration to an area of lower concentration.
◉ Osmosis. Answer: movement of fluid from an area of lower solute
concentration to a higher concentration
,◉ Filtration. Answer: water and solute movement occurs from an area of
high hydrostatic pressure to an area of low hydrostatic pressure
◉ Osmolality. Answer: the number of osmotically active particles per kg
of water
◉ Hypertonic. Answer: osmolality greater than 300.
◉ Hypotonic. Answer: osmolality less than 300.
- osmotic pressure is more significant in the body
- fluids pulled from body into cell
◉ An isotonic solution. Answer: 0.09% normal saline
◉ Interferons (IFNs). Answer: type of cytokine that signals cells to
increase anti-viral defenses.
- are released by cells that are infected with a virus, causing other cells
to become resistant to the virus
- play a role in tumor suppression
◉ Hypervolemia. Answer: fluid volume overload
,◉ Edema. Answer: swelling of soft tissues because of excess fluid
accumulation
◉ Causes of edema include:. Answer: -Increased hydrostatic (water)
pressure
- Manifestation: High BP and pitting edema
- Renal Failure, Heart Failure
- Decreased colloid osmotic pressure
- low albumin
- cirrhosis, starvation
- bacteria infections/burns
- obstruction of lymphatic system (cancer or infection)
◉ Symptoms of edema include:. Answer: - weight gain
- hypertension
- jugular vein distention
- ALOC (altered level of consciousness)
- weakness
- increased urine output / or decreased in patients with renal failure
- Rapid RR (resp rate)
- shallow RR
- fluid in lungs
, - diarrhea, hepatomegaly (enlarged liver), ascites
- low lab values
◉ Hypovolemia. Answer: fluid volume deficit
◉ Symptoms of hypovolemia include:. Answer: - vomiting
- diarrhea
- hot body & sweating
- fever
- heat stroke
- thyroid crisis
- urination
◉ diabetes insipidus (DI). Answer: insufficient secretion of antidiuretic
hormone (vasopressin)
◉ Diabetes Ketoacidosis (DKA). Answer: -primary complication of type
1 diabetes
-the body produces excess ketones into the blood
-also referred to as diabetic acidosis or diabetic coma
◉ Diuretics. Answer: medications that reduce fluid volume in the body
