WGU PATHO D236 EXAM SCRIPT 2026
QUESTIONS AND FULL ANSWERS GRADED A+
◉ Heberden and Bouchard's nodes. Answer: Small bumps that grow
on the joints, especially the fingers - telltale sign of osteoarthritis
◉ Osteoporosis. Answer: a condition in which the bones become
fragile and break easily
◉ Osteoporosis is usually more prevalent in the ____. Answer: wrist,
vertebrae, and upper femur
◉ True or false: Bone formation occurs throughout life in the
remodeling process, and requires adequate calcium in the diet.
Answer: True
◉ Insufficient calcium in diet causes inadequate calcium blood levels
that stimulate ____. Answer: parathyroid gland activity
◉ ____ regulates blood calcium by stimulated bone remodeling,
triggering vitamin D synthesis in the kidney, enhancing GI
absorption of calcium and reabsorbing calcium in the kidney.
Answer: PTH
,◉ AVN (avascular necrosis). Answer: deterioration of bone caused
by insufficient blood supply
◉ AVN is commonly associated with fractures of ____. Answer:
femoral head and neck, scaphoid, neck and body, and proximal
humerus
◉ AVN symptoms. Answer: pain and weakness, motor weakness,
abnormal gait, lack of rehab progress
◉ ____ is used to detect AVN. Answer: MRI
◉ AVN treatment. Answer: surgical removal of necrotic bone
◉ Describe the process of articular degeneration. Which cells are
involved in this process and what is their function?. Answer: The
thinning and breakdown of the articular cartilage that covers joints
and acts as a lubricant and cushion.
This articular cartilage is comprised of chondrocytes in a matrix of
collagen and aggrecan. The chondrocytes produce enzymes and
other proteins that slowly break down and reform the matrix,
allowing for regeneration. Stress caused by being overweight or
physical trauma can cause chondrocytes to speed up the matrix
,breakdown process relative to the reformation process, leading to a
thinning of the articular cartilage.
◉ You receive a patient who has experienced a burn on the right leg.
You note the burn contains small blisters and is extremely pinkish
red and shiny/moist. The patient reports severe pain. You document
this burn as:
A. 1st Degree (superficial)
B. 2nd Degree (partial-thickness)
C. 3rd Degree (full-thickness)
D. 4th Degree (deep full-thickness). Answer: 2nd Degree (partial-
thickness)
◉ *NOTE* I don't remember the exact question, but one was about a
burn that was painful and wanted to know what the other symptom
was that was not listed, so just know the symptoms of each burn
category that is painful.. Answer:
◉ Superficial thickness (first degree) burn. Answer: - painful
- does not blister
- does not scar
◉ Partial thickness (second degree) burn. Answer: - painful
- blisters and weeps
, - increased risk of infection and scarring
◉ Full thickness (third degree) burn. Answer: - no pain
- dry
- substantial scar or contracture
- skin grafting required
- high infection risk
◉ Fourth degree burn. Answer: - involves muscle or bone
- leads to loss of the burned part
◉ An adolescent male patient is brought to the emergency
department after spending a long day at the beach. The patient's
head, neck, and trunk from the waist upwards and legs from the
knees downward are bright red and edematous. The patient is
crying and reports 8/10 pain and an inability to find a comfortable
position. What is the most likely classification of this burn?. Answer:
Superficial
◉ *NOTE* There was 4 questions about ischemic and hemorrhagic
strokes. Answer:
◉ Ischemic stroke (thromboembolism). Answer: Caused by an
embolus that blocks the cerebral artery an causes brain tissue death
QUESTIONS AND FULL ANSWERS GRADED A+
◉ Heberden and Bouchard's nodes. Answer: Small bumps that grow
on the joints, especially the fingers - telltale sign of osteoarthritis
◉ Osteoporosis. Answer: a condition in which the bones become
fragile and break easily
◉ Osteoporosis is usually more prevalent in the ____. Answer: wrist,
vertebrae, and upper femur
◉ True or false: Bone formation occurs throughout life in the
remodeling process, and requires adequate calcium in the diet.
Answer: True
◉ Insufficient calcium in diet causes inadequate calcium blood levels
that stimulate ____. Answer: parathyroid gland activity
◉ ____ regulates blood calcium by stimulated bone remodeling,
triggering vitamin D synthesis in the kidney, enhancing GI
absorption of calcium and reabsorbing calcium in the kidney.
Answer: PTH
,◉ AVN (avascular necrosis). Answer: deterioration of bone caused
by insufficient blood supply
◉ AVN is commonly associated with fractures of ____. Answer:
femoral head and neck, scaphoid, neck and body, and proximal
humerus
◉ AVN symptoms. Answer: pain and weakness, motor weakness,
abnormal gait, lack of rehab progress
◉ ____ is used to detect AVN. Answer: MRI
◉ AVN treatment. Answer: surgical removal of necrotic bone
◉ Describe the process of articular degeneration. Which cells are
involved in this process and what is their function?. Answer: The
thinning and breakdown of the articular cartilage that covers joints
and acts as a lubricant and cushion.
This articular cartilage is comprised of chondrocytes in a matrix of
collagen and aggrecan. The chondrocytes produce enzymes and
other proteins that slowly break down and reform the matrix,
allowing for regeneration. Stress caused by being overweight or
physical trauma can cause chondrocytes to speed up the matrix
,breakdown process relative to the reformation process, leading to a
thinning of the articular cartilage.
◉ You receive a patient who has experienced a burn on the right leg.
You note the burn contains small blisters and is extremely pinkish
red and shiny/moist. The patient reports severe pain. You document
this burn as:
A. 1st Degree (superficial)
B. 2nd Degree (partial-thickness)
C. 3rd Degree (full-thickness)
D. 4th Degree (deep full-thickness). Answer: 2nd Degree (partial-
thickness)
◉ *NOTE* I don't remember the exact question, but one was about a
burn that was painful and wanted to know what the other symptom
was that was not listed, so just know the symptoms of each burn
category that is painful.. Answer:
◉ Superficial thickness (first degree) burn. Answer: - painful
- does not blister
- does not scar
◉ Partial thickness (second degree) burn. Answer: - painful
- blisters and weeps
, - increased risk of infection and scarring
◉ Full thickness (third degree) burn. Answer: - no pain
- dry
- substantial scar or contracture
- skin grafting required
- high infection risk
◉ Fourth degree burn. Answer: - involves muscle or bone
- leads to loss of the burned part
◉ An adolescent male patient is brought to the emergency
department after spending a long day at the beach. The patient's
head, neck, and trunk from the waist upwards and legs from the
knees downward are bright red and edematous. The patient is
crying and reports 8/10 pain and an inability to find a comfortable
position. What is the most likely classification of this burn?. Answer:
Superficial
◉ *NOTE* There was 4 questions about ischemic and hemorrhagic
strokes. Answer:
◉ Ischemic stroke (thromboembolism). Answer: Caused by an
embolus that blocks the cerebral artery an causes brain tissue death
