WGU D115 OBJECT ASSESSMENT ADVANCED
PATHOPHYSIOLOGY EXAM EXAM PREP
QUESTIONS AND SOLUTIONS 2026
◉ Hyperfunction of the adrenal cortex symtoms Answer:
Hyperfunction of the adrenal cortex leading to cortisol excesses
causes Cushing syndrome, which manifests itself with easy bruising,
muscle wasting, and skin striae.
Hyperfunction of the adrenal cortex leading to cortisol excesses
causes Cushing syndrome, which manifests itself with moon face,
thinning hair on the scalp, and buffalo hump.
◉ A family is concerned that their elderly family member is not
eating.
Which three education topics should be addressed with the family
regarding anorexia of the elderly? Answer: With aging, decreased
saliva affects both taste and swallowing, often leading to anorexia.
Additionally, anorexia of aging is common, and family members need
to understand this. Offering oral care guidance and suggesting foods
that taste good to the patient and are easy to chew with the teeth or
dentures may be effective interventions. Furthermore, social
stimulation has been shown to be effective in elderly patients with
anorexia, providing relaxation and enjoyment during food intake.
,◉ What is the major cause of non-endemic congenital
hypothyroidism in developed countries? Answer: Thyroid
dysgenesis occurs in 1 in 4,500 births and is associated with
developmental abnormalities of the thyroid gland.
◉ The principal hormones influencing growth are GH and the IGFs.
True or false Answer: true
There are many hormones that influence growth, but the principal
hormones are GH and the IGFs.
◉ List three endocrine organs that need evaluation and provide a
rationale for each. Answer: -The thyroid gland should be evaluated
because adequate thyroid hormone is required for normal bone
growth.
-The adrenal gland should be evaluated because Cushing syndrome,
while rare, results in hypersecretion of corticosteroids leading to
short stature.
-The pituitary gland should be evaluated since growth hormone is
secreted by the pituitary gland. Hypofunction of the pituitary gland
results in growth problems.
◉ Koplik's spots are small red papules with white centers found on
buccal mucosa by the lower molars and are indicative of measles.
,True or False Answer: TRUE Koplik's spots are a prodromic viral
enanthem of measles manifesting approximately two to three days
before the measles rash begins.
◉ What are three deteriorations in abilities that commonly
characterize dementia? Answer: Dementia is the progressive failure
(an acquired deterioration) of many cerebral functions that include
impairment of intellectual function with a decrease in orienting,
memory, language, executive attentional functions, and alterations in
behavior.
◉ Which two clinical manifestations are characteristic of cluster
headaches? Answer: The cluster headache attack usually begins
without warning and is characterized by severe unilateral tearing,
burning, and periorbital, retrobulbar, or temporal pain lasting from
30 minutes to two hours. This pain may be disabling.
◉ Which two statements are true regarding myelodysplasia?
Answer: Although myelodysplasia is defined as a defect in the
formation of the spinal cord, the term is also used to refer to
anomalies of both the vertebral column and spinal cord. Birth
defects in which the vertebrae fail to close are known as spina bifida
(split spine).
◉ Which four problems are experienced by individuals with
depression? Answer: Insomnia, hypersomnia, and other
disturbances in sleep cycles frequently accompany depression.
, Increases or decreases in body weight, which may be due to side
effects of medication or changes in self-worth, may also accompany
depression. Loss of appetite and anorexia frequently accompany
unipolar depression, and overeating frequently accompanies other
types of depression. Approximately 20 to 30% of people with
unipolar depression have an altered hypothalamic-pituitary-thyroid
(HPT) system.
◉ Symptoms of post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD) in children
may mimic symptoms of attention deficit hyperactivity disorder
(ADHD).
True or False Answer: True
Symptoms of PTSD in children often lead to being restless, being
fidgety, and trouble staying focused and organized, leading to a false
diagnosis of ADHD.
◉ A patient has a hernial protrusion of a sac-like cyst containing
meninges, spinal fluid, and a portion of the spinal cord through a
deficit in the spinal column.
Which condition does this describe? Answer: Myelomeningocele is a
type of spina bifida, a neural tube defect, which is rarely covered by
skin and protrudes from the back exposing spinal cord tissue.
◉ Which hormone is involved in the regulation of serum calcium
levels? Answer: PTH-Found in the tissue of the thyroid are
parafollicular cells, or C cells. C cells secrete various regulatory
PATHOPHYSIOLOGY EXAM EXAM PREP
QUESTIONS AND SOLUTIONS 2026
◉ Hyperfunction of the adrenal cortex symtoms Answer:
Hyperfunction of the adrenal cortex leading to cortisol excesses
causes Cushing syndrome, which manifests itself with easy bruising,
muscle wasting, and skin striae.
Hyperfunction of the adrenal cortex leading to cortisol excesses
causes Cushing syndrome, which manifests itself with moon face,
thinning hair on the scalp, and buffalo hump.
◉ A family is concerned that their elderly family member is not
eating.
Which three education topics should be addressed with the family
regarding anorexia of the elderly? Answer: With aging, decreased
saliva affects both taste and swallowing, often leading to anorexia.
Additionally, anorexia of aging is common, and family members need
to understand this. Offering oral care guidance and suggesting foods
that taste good to the patient and are easy to chew with the teeth or
dentures may be effective interventions. Furthermore, social
stimulation has been shown to be effective in elderly patients with
anorexia, providing relaxation and enjoyment during food intake.
,◉ What is the major cause of non-endemic congenital
hypothyroidism in developed countries? Answer: Thyroid
dysgenesis occurs in 1 in 4,500 births and is associated with
developmental abnormalities of the thyroid gland.
◉ The principal hormones influencing growth are GH and the IGFs.
True or false Answer: true
There are many hormones that influence growth, but the principal
hormones are GH and the IGFs.
◉ List three endocrine organs that need evaluation and provide a
rationale for each. Answer: -The thyroid gland should be evaluated
because adequate thyroid hormone is required for normal bone
growth.
-The adrenal gland should be evaluated because Cushing syndrome,
while rare, results in hypersecretion of corticosteroids leading to
short stature.
-The pituitary gland should be evaluated since growth hormone is
secreted by the pituitary gland. Hypofunction of the pituitary gland
results in growth problems.
◉ Koplik's spots are small red papules with white centers found on
buccal mucosa by the lower molars and are indicative of measles.
,True or False Answer: TRUE Koplik's spots are a prodromic viral
enanthem of measles manifesting approximately two to three days
before the measles rash begins.
◉ What are three deteriorations in abilities that commonly
characterize dementia? Answer: Dementia is the progressive failure
(an acquired deterioration) of many cerebral functions that include
impairment of intellectual function with a decrease in orienting,
memory, language, executive attentional functions, and alterations in
behavior.
◉ Which two clinical manifestations are characteristic of cluster
headaches? Answer: The cluster headache attack usually begins
without warning and is characterized by severe unilateral tearing,
burning, and periorbital, retrobulbar, or temporal pain lasting from
30 minutes to two hours. This pain may be disabling.
◉ Which two statements are true regarding myelodysplasia?
Answer: Although myelodysplasia is defined as a defect in the
formation of the spinal cord, the term is also used to refer to
anomalies of both the vertebral column and spinal cord. Birth
defects in which the vertebrae fail to close are known as spina bifida
(split spine).
◉ Which four problems are experienced by individuals with
depression? Answer: Insomnia, hypersomnia, and other
disturbances in sleep cycles frequently accompany depression.
, Increases or decreases in body weight, which may be due to side
effects of medication or changes in self-worth, may also accompany
depression. Loss of appetite and anorexia frequently accompany
unipolar depression, and overeating frequently accompanies other
types of depression. Approximately 20 to 30% of people with
unipolar depression have an altered hypothalamic-pituitary-thyroid
(HPT) system.
◉ Symptoms of post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD) in children
may mimic symptoms of attention deficit hyperactivity disorder
(ADHD).
True or False Answer: True
Symptoms of PTSD in children often lead to being restless, being
fidgety, and trouble staying focused and organized, leading to a false
diagnosis of ADHD.
◉ A patient has a hernial protrusion of a sac-like cyst containing
meninges, spinal fluid, and a portion of the spinal cord through a
deficit in the spinal column.
Which condition does this describe? Answer: Myelomeningocele is a
type of spina bifida, a neural tube defect, which is rarely covered by
skin and protrudes from the back exposing spinal cord tissue.
◉ Which hormone is involved in the regulation of serum calcium
levels? Answer: PTH-Found in the tissue of the thyroid are
parafollicular cells, or C cells. C cells secrete various regulatory
