WGU D236 PATHOPHYSIOLOGY
OBJECTIVE ASSESSMENT EXAM STUDY
GUIDE 2025/2026 | COMPLETE
QUESTIONS | VERIFIED ANSWERS |
GRADED A + | PASS GUARANTEED |
RECENT UPDATE
The provider is caring for a client who reports experiencing episodes of muscle
weakness, accompanied by profound fatigue and blurry vision. Which diagnosis is
the most consistent with these signs? - ANSWER Multiple Sclerosis
Hypertension causes traumatic damage to the endothelium of the arteries. Which
organs have arteries that are at a particular risk for damage? - ANSWER Brain,
heart, eyes, and kidneys
Which problem causes a myocardial infarction or heart attack? - ANSWER An
occlusion of a coronary artery most commonly from a thrombus (blood clot).
What are the characteristics of primary/essential hypertension? -
ANSWER Idiopathic; common "silent killer"
BP consistently > 130/80
What are the characteristics of secondary hypertension? - ANSWER Results
from other disease or disorder
,Renal disease; endocrine disorder; pheochromocytoma (adrenal tumor)
What are the characteristics of malignant/resistant hypertension? -
ANSWER Severe, rapidly progressing; uncontrolled
Diastolic pressure extremely high
Many complications
What are the risk factors, manifestations, and complications of hypertension? -
ANSWER Risk Factors: Age, sex, heredity, lifestyle
Manifestations: Asymptomatic, vague symptoms (fatigue, malaise, morning
headache)
Complications: Sclerosis, narrowing of vessels, atheroma formation (fatty build up
in arteries)
What are the causes of heart failure? - ANSWER MI (left ventricle)
CAD
HTN
Chronic lung disease (R ventricle needs to work harder to push blood through
pulmonary circulation if there is an obstructive lung disease)
Valve problems
What are the compensatory mechanisms of heart failure? - ANSWER #Renin
and aldosterone secretion (vasoconstriction and blood volume is increased)
,#SNS response (increases heart rate/vasoconstriction - epinephrine and
norepinephrine)
#Cardiac hypertrophy (increased size of the heart)
What happens to the various anion levels in the bloodstream during diabetic
ketoacidosis? - ANSWER The anion gap level increases, whereas the HCO3-
level decreases.
How do the kidneys compensate for alkalosis! - ANSWER By retaining more
H+ and excreting more HCO3-
What is one cause of edema? - ANSWER Diminished osmotic force created by
low numbers of solutes in the bloodstream.
What are two causes of metabolic acidosis due to increased noncarbonic acids?
2 answers. - ANSWER Diabetic ketoacidosis
Lactic acidosis
A health informatics professional is conducting a documentation review of records
at the request of the Infection Control Department. The professional is tasked with
flagging records of patients with diseases spread by respiratory secretions.
What are two diseases that this HIM professional should flag? 2 answers. -
ANSWER Varicella
Influenza
What should a healthcare provider recognize as part of a patient's adaptive
immune response to an influenza virus? - ANSWER Generation of
immunoglobulin M (IgM)
, Which apparent electrolyte imbalance may result from untreated acidosis? -
ANSWER Hyperkalemia
What describes an antimicrobial peptide? - ANSWER A chain of amino acids
produced by cells in response to pathogenic exposure.
A patient with chronic hypertension developed enlargement of the left ventricle of
the heart.
What is the maladaptive cellular change that occurred in this patient? -
ANSWER Pathological hypertrophy
Two parents take genetic tests for sickle cell disease. Both parents are
heterozygous. What are all the possible outcomes for their children? -
ANSWER Heterozygous, homozygous normal, or homozygous sickle
A six month old baby is diagnosed with Tay Sachs disease.
Which developmental disruptions are associated with this disorder? -
ANSWER Lethargy, muscle flaccidity, motor coordination impairment, and
increasing cognitive impairment.
Which fracture type is it when there is more than one fracture line, and more than
two bone fragments are shattered or crushed? - ANSWER Comminuted
What are two characteristics of osteoarthritis as opposed to rheumatoid arthritis?
OBJECTIVE ASSESSMENT EXAM STUDY
GUIDE 2025/2026 | COMPLETE
QUESTIONS | VERIFIED ANSWERS |
GRADED A + | PASS GUARANTEED |
RECENT UPDATE
The provider is caring for a client who reports experiencing episodes of muscle
weakness, accompanied by profound fatigue and blurry vision. Which diagnosis is
the most consistent with these signs? - ANSWER Multiple Sclerosis
Hypertension causes traumatic damage to the endothelium of the arteries. Which
organs have arteries that are at a particular risk for damage? - ANSWER Brain,
heart, eyes, and kidneys
Which problem causes a myocardial infarction or heart attack? - ANSWER An
occlusion of a coronary artery most commonly from a thrombus (blood clot).
What are the characteristics of primary/essential hypertension? -
ANSWER Idiopathic; common "silent killer"
BP consistently > 130/80
What are the characteristics of secondary hypertension? - ANSWER Results
from other disease or disorder
,Renal disease; endocrine disorder; pheochromocytoma (adrenal tumor)
What are the characteristics of malignant/resistant hypertension? -
ANSWER Severe, rapidly progressing; uncontrolled
Diastolic pressure extremely high
Many complications
What are the risk factors, manifestations, and complications of hypertension? -
ANSWER Risk Factors: Age, sex, heredity, lifestyle
Manifestations: Asymptomatic, vague symptoms (fatigue, malaise, morning
headache)
Complications: Sclerosis, narrowing of vessels, atheroma formation (fatty build up
in arteries)
What are the causes of heart failure? - ANSWER MI (left ventricle)
CAD
HTN
Chronic lung disease (R ventricle needs to work harder to push blood through
pulmonary circulation if there is an obstructive lung disease)
Valve problems
What are the compensatory mechanisms of heart failure? - ANSWER #Renin
and aldosterone secretion (vasoconstriction and blood volume is increased)
,#SNS response (increases heart rate/vasoconstriction - epinephrine and
norepinephrine)
#Cardiac hypertrophy (increased size of the heart)
What happens to the various anion levels in the bloodstream during diabetic
ketoacidosis? - ANSWER The anion gap level increases, whereas the HCO3-
level decreases.
How do the kidneys compensate for alkalosis! - ANSWER By retaining more
H+ and excreting more HCO3-
What is one cause of edema? - ANSWER Diminished osmotic force created by
low numbers of solutes in the bloodstream.
What are two causes of metabolic acidosis due to increased noncarbonic acids?
2 answers. - ANSWER Diabetic ketoacidosis
Lactic acidosis
A health informatics professional is conducting a documentation review of records
at the request of the Infection Control Department. The professional is tasked with
flagging records of patients with diseases spread by respiratory secretions.
What are two diseases that this HIM professional should flag? 2 answers. -
ANSWER Varicella
Influenza
What should a healthcare provider recognize as part of a patient's adaptive
immune response to an influenza virus? - ANSWER Generation of
immunoglobulin M (IgM)
, Which apparent electrolyte imbalance may result from untreated acidosis? -
ANSWER Hyperkalemia
What describes an antimicrobial peptide? - ANSWER A chain of amino acids
produced by cells in response to pathogenic exposure.
A patient with chronic hypertension developed enlargement of the left ventricle of
the heart.
What is the maladaptive cellular change that occurred in this patient? -
ANSWER Pathological hypertrophy
Two parents take genetic tests for sickle cell disease. Both parents are
heterozygous. What are all the possible outcomes for their children? -
ANSWER Heterozygous, homozygous normal, or homozygous sickle
A six month old baby is diagnosed with Tay Sachs disease.
Which developmental disruptions are associated with this disorder? -
ANSWER Lethargy, muscle flaccidity, motor coordination impairment, and
increasing cognitive impairment.
Which fracture type is it when there is more than one fracture line, and more than
two bone fragments are shattered or crushed? - ANSWER Comminuted
What are two characteristics of osteoarthritis as opposed to rheumatoid arthritis?
