WGU D236 PATHOPHYSIOLOGY FINAL PAPER
2026 COMPLETE QUESTIONS WITH CORRECT
ANSWERS
◉ Describe an intracranial bleed in the subarachnoid space Answer:
Occurs between the brain and the thin tissues that cover the brain.
The most common cause is trauma but it can also be d/t the rupture
of a major blood vessel in the brain (intracerebral aneurysm).
A sudden, sharp headache usually comes before a subarachnoid
hemorrhage. Typical symptoms also include loss of consciousness
and vomiting.
◉ Describe an intracranial bleed in the intracerebral space Answer:
Occurs inside the brain.
Not usually the result of an injury.
Prominent warning sign is the sudden onset of neurological deficits.
Symptoms progress over minutes to hours and include headache,
difficulty speaking, n/v, decreased consciousness, weakness in one
part of the body, and elevated blood pressure.
,◉ Cerebral Concussion (Mild Traumatic Brain Injury) Answer:
Individuals with mild TBI can develop postconcussive syndrome
(PCS), which includes headaches, lethargy, mental dullness, and
other symptoms that can persist for several months after a TBI.
◉ Signs and symptoms of cerebral contusion Answer: Severe
headache, dizziness, vomiting, increased size of one pupil, and
sudden weakness in an arm or leg. The person may seem restless,
agitated, or irritable. Often, the person has memory loss.
These symptoms can last for several hours to several weeks,
depending on the severity of the injury. As the brain tissue swells,
the person may feel increasingly drowsy or confused.
Vitals may show decreased heart rate and respirations and
hypertension, which are signs of pressure on the brainstem.
◉ What is the cause of Bell's Palsy? Answer: Unknown, but thought
to be due to virus, or autoimmunity.
Doctors believe that the most likely cause of Bell's palsy in pregnant
women is the Herpes virus.
#Cold sores and genital herpes (herpes simplex)
,#Chickenpox and shingles (herpes zoster)
#Infectious mononucleosis (Epstein-Barr)
#Cytomegalovirus infections
#Respiratory illnesses (adenovirus)
#German measles (rubella)
#Mumps (mumps virus)
#Flu (influenza B)
#Hand-foot-and-mouth disease (coxsackievirus)
◉ What are signs/symptoms of cerebral edema? Answer: #
Headache
# Neck pain or stiffness
# Nausea or vomiting
# Dizziness
# Irregular breathing
# Vision loss or changes
# Memory loss
# Inability to walk
# Difficulty speaking
# Stupor
# Seizures
# Loss of consciousness
, ◉ What neuro conditions cause flat emotions and sleep
disturbances? Answer: #Alzheimer's
#Schizophrenia
#Parkinson's disease
◉ What are the s/sx of Parkinson's? Answer: #Gait changes
#Resting tremor
#Increased muscle tone (rigidity)
#Slow gait/movements (bradykinesia)
◉ What are the s/sx of Amyotrophic Lateral Sclerosis (Lou Gehrig's
disease)? Answer: Upper motor neurons become sclerotic and die
Weakness in upper and lower extremities, head drop, speech
changes, dysphagia.
Treatment: Riluzole (Rilutek) - works by changing the activity of
certain natural substances in the body that affect nerves and
muscles.
◉ What are the s/sx of Multiple Sclerosis? Answer: #Episodes of
muscle weakness
2026 COMPLETE QUESTIONS WITH CORRECT
ANSWERS
◉ Describe an intracranial bleed in the subarachnoid space Answer:
Occurs between the brain and the thin tissues that cover the brain.
The most common cause is trauma but it can also be d/t the rupture
of a major blood vessel in the brain (intracerebral aneurysm).
A sudden, sharp headache usually comes before a subarachnoid
hemorrhage. Typical symptoms also include loss of consciousness
and vomiting.
◉ Describe an intracranial bleed in the intracerebral space Answer:
Occurs inside the brain.
Not usually the result of an injury.
Prominent warning sign is the sudden onset of neurological deficits.
Symptoms progress over minutes to hours and include headache,
difficulty speaking, n/v, decreased consciousness, weakness in one
part of the body, and elevated blood pressure.
,◉ Cerebral Concussion (Mild Traumatic Brain Injury) Answer:
Individuals with mild TBI can develop postconcussive syndrome
(PCS), which includes headaches, lethargy, mental dullness, and
other symptoms that can persist for several months after a TBI.
◉ Signs and symptoms of cerebral contusion Answer: Severe
headache, dizziness, vomiting, increased size of one pupil, and
sudden weakness in an arm or leg. The person may seem restless,
agitated, or irritable. Often, the person has memory loss.
These symptoms can last for several hours to several weeks,
depending on the severity of the injury. As the brain tissue swells,
the person may feel increasingly drowsy or confused.
Vitals may show decreased heart rate and respirations and
hypertension, which are signs of pressure on the brainstem.
◉ What is the cause of Bell's Palsy? Answer: Unknown, but thought
to be due to virus, or autoimmunity.
Doctors believe that the most likely cause of Bell's palsy in pregnant
women is the Herpes virus.
#Cold sores and genital herpes (herpes simplex)
,#Chickenpox and shingles (herpes zoster)
#Infectious mononucleosis (Epstein-Barr)
#Cytomegalovirus infections
#Respiratory illnesses (adenovirus)
#German measles (rubella)
#Mumps (mumps virus)
#Flu (influenza B)
#Hand-foot-and-mouth disease (coxsackievirus)
◉ What are signs/symptoms of cerebral edema? Answer: #
Headache
# Neck pain or stiffness
# Nausea or vomiting
# Dizziness
# Irregular breathing
# Vision loss or changes
# Memory loss
# Inability to walk
# Difficulty speaking
# Stupor
# Seizures
# Loss of consciousness
, ◉ What neuro conditions cause flat emotions and sleep
disturbances? Answer: #Alzheimer's
#Schizophrenia
#Parkinson's disease
◉ What are the s/sx of Parkinson's? Answer: #Gait changes
#Resting tremor
#Increased muscle tone (rigidity)
#Slow gait/movements (bradykinesia)
◉ What are the s/sx of Amyotrophic Lateral Sclerosis (Lou Gehrig's
disease)? Answer: Upper motor neurons become sclerotic and die
Weakness in upper and lower extremities, head drop, speech
changes, dysphagia.
Treatment: Riluzole (Rilutek) - works by changing the activity of
certain natural substances in the body that affect nerves and
muscles.
◉ What are the s/sx of Multiple Sclerosis? Answer: #Episodes of
muscle weakness
