WGU pathophysiology D236 Exam
Questions with Actual Solutions
Graded A+
1. What is rheumatoid arthritis? A chronic systemic disease characterized by
inflammation of the joints, stiffness, pain, and swelling that results in crippling
deformities. Causes elevated WBC counts.
2. What is cerebral contusion? The bruising of brain tissue as the result of a
head injury that causes the brain to bounce against the rigid bone of the skull;
symptoms: ringing in ears, severe headache, nausea/vomiting.
3. What is TIA vs CVA? TIA - result when a cerebral artery is
temporarily blocked and decreases blood flow to brain, Stroke - artery completely
blocked leading to death of brain and permanent loss of certain functions
4. What is multiple sclerosis? A chronic, irreversible disease of the central
nervous system marked by damage to the myelin sheath. Plaques occur in the brain and
spinal cord causing tremor, weakness, incoordination, paresthesia, and disturbances in
vision and speech
,5. What is an aneurysm? Ballooning of a weakened portion of an arterial wall
6. What is thrombus vs embolus? Thrombus = clot in arteries, embolus dislodged
traveling clot in arteries, blocks blood flow
7. What is atherosclerosis? Hardening and narrowing of the arteries due to
buildup of cholesterol plaques: 1. endothelial injury, 2. foam cell formation, 3. fatty
streak formation
8. What is angina pectoris? Chest pain, which may radiate to the left arm
and jaw, that occurs when there is an insufficient supply of blood to the heart muscle
9. What is myocardial infarction? The occlusion of one or more coronary arteries
caused by plaque buildup (heart attack)
10. What is endocarditis? Inflammation of the inner lining of the heart
11. What is pericarditis? Inflammation of the pericardium (sack surrounding heart)
12. What is benign vs malignant hypertension? Benign - "essential hypertension",
chronic vascular damage due to sodium retention; malignant – acute vascular damage
due to renin release
,13. What is a communicable disease? A disease that can be spread from one person
or species to another.
14. What is an infectious disease? A disease that is caused by a pathogen and that can
be spread from one individual to another.
15. What does myocardial infarction cause damage to? Arteries of: brain, retina,
heart, kidneys.
16. What is expected in right-sided heart failure? JVD (jugular vein distension)
17. What characterizes hypertensive crisis? Systolic BP > 180
18. What are the types of anemia? Aplastic (decreased or missing RBC
production), Iron Deficiency, Folic Acid Deficiency, Vitamin B12 Deficiency/Pernicious,
Hemolytic (breakdown of RBCs faster than produced), Sickle Cell (RBCs die too early,
shortage of RBCs)
19. Where does cancer originate from in leukemia? Bone marrow
20. What are CD4 cells? Helper T cells that mature in thymus that
activate B cells to create immunity
, 21. What is Hodgkin's lymphoma? Distinguished from other lymphomas by the
presence of large, cancerous lymphocytes known as Reed- Sternberg cells
22. What is lymphocytosis? Abnormal increase in lymphocytes, asymptomatic
23. What is stable angina? Predictable and consistent pain that occurs on
exertion and is relieved by rest and/or nitroglycerin
24. What is an upper respiratory tract infection? Common cold, laryngitis, croup,
pharyngitis, rhinitis, sinusitis, and tonsillitis
25. What is a lower respiratory tract infection? Pneumonia, bronchitis, tuberculosis
26. What conditions lead to COPD? Smoking, asthma, dust, chemicals, genetics
27. What is pneumonia? An inflammation in the lung caused by infection from
bacteria, viruses, fungi, or parasites, or resulting from aspiration of chemicals. Hear
crackles and rhonchi
28. What is asthma? Treatment-resistant bronchospasm, same
category as COPD
Questions with Actual Solutions
Graded A+
1. What is rheumatoid arthritis? A chronic systemic disease characterized by
inflammation of the joints, stiffness, pain, and swelling that results in crippling
deformities. Causes elevated WBC counts.
2. What is cerebral contusion? The bruising of brain tissue as the result of a
head injury that causes the brain to bounce against the rigid bone of the skull;
symptoms: ringing in ears, severe headache, nausea/vomiting.
3. What is TIA vs CVA? TIA - result when a cerebral artery is
temporarily blocked and decreases blood flow to brain, Stroke - artery completely
blocked leading to death of brain and permanent loss of certain functions
4. What is multiple sclerosis? A chronic, irreversible disease of the central
nervous system marked by damage to the myelin sheath. Plaques occur in the brain and
spinal cord causing tremor, weakness, incoordination, paresthesia, and disturbances in
vision and speech
,5. What is an aneurysm? Ballooning of a weakened portion of an arterial wall
6. What is thrombus vs embolus? Thrombus = clot in arteries, embolus dislodged
traveling clot in arteries, blocks blood flow
7. What is atherosclerosis? Hardening and narrowing of the arteries due to
buildup of cholesterol plaques: 1. endothelial injury, 2. foam cell formation, 3. fatty
streak formation
8. What is angina pectoris? Chest pain, which may radiate to the left arm
and jaw, that occurs when there is an insufficient supply of blood to the heart muscle
9. What is myocardial infarction? The occlusion of one or more coronary arteries
caused by plaque buildup (heart attack)
10. What is endocarditis? Inflammation of the inner lining of the heart
11. What is pericarditis? Inflammation of the pericardium (sack surrounding heart)
12. What is benign vs malignant hypertension? Benign - "essential hypertension",
chronic vascular damage due to sodium retention; malignant – acute vascular damage
due to renin release
,13. What is a communicable disease? A disease that can be spread from one person
or species to another.
14. What is an infectious disease? A disease that is caused by a pathogen and that can
be spread from one individual to another.
15. What does myocardial infarction cause damage to? Arteries of: brain, retina,
heart, kidneys.
16. What is expected in right-sided heart failure? JVD (jugular vein distension)
17. What characterizes hypertensive crisis? Systolic BP > 180
18. What are the types of anemia? Aplastic (decreased or missing RBC
production), Iron Deficiency, Folic Acid Deficiency, Vitamin B12 Deficiency/Pernicious,
Hemolytic (breakdown of RBCs faster than produced), Sickle Cell (RBCs die too early,
shortage of RBCs)
19. Where does cancer originate from in leukemia? Bone marrow
20. What are CD4 cells? Helper T cells that mature in thymus that
activate B cells to create immunity
, 21. What is Hodgkin's lymphoma? Distinguished from other lymphomas by the
presence of large, cancerous lymphocytes known as Reed- Sternberg cells
22. What is lymphocytosis? Abnormal increase in lymphocytes, asymptomatic
23. What is stable angina? Predictable and consistent pain that occurs on
exertion and is relieved by rest and/or nitroglycerin
24. What is an upper respiratory tract infection? Common cold, laryngitis, croup,
pharyngitis, rhinitis, sinusitis, and tonsillitis
25. What is a lower respiratory tract infection? Pneumonia, bronchitis, tuberculosis
26. What conditions lead to COPD? Smoking, asthma, dust, chemicals, genetics
27. What is pneumonia? An inflammation in the lung caused by infection from
bacteria, viruses, fungi, or parasites, or resulting from aspiration of chemicals. Hear
crackles and rhonchi
28. What is asthma? Treatment-resistant bronchospasm, same
category as COPD
