D236 Pathophysiology Final Exam Practice 2026 |WGU
1. A patient’s biopsy reveals that one type of mature cell has been replaced by
another mature cell type. What is this cellular adaptation called?
A. Atrophy
B. Metaplasia
C. Hyperplasia
D. Dysplasia
Answer: B
Rationale: Metaplasia is the reversible replacement of one mature cell type by another,
often as a response to chronic irritation.
2. Which process describes programmed cell death characterized by the lack of
inflammation?
A. Necrosis
B. Autophagy
C. Infarction
D. Apoptosis
Answer: D
Rationale: Apoptosis is a distinct, programmed process of cellular self-destruction that
does not typically trigger an inflammatory response.
,3. A patient with chronic hypertension develops thickening of the left
ventricular wall. This is an example of:
A. Physiologic hypertrophy
B. Hormonal hyperplasia
C. Compensatory hyperplasia
D. Pathologic hypertrophy
Answer: D
Rationale: Pathologic hypertrophy occurs in response to abnormal stressors, such as the
heart pumping against high pressure in hypertension.
4. Which electrolyte imbalance is most likely to cause a widened QRS complex
and peaked T waves on an ECG?
A. Hypokalemia
B. Hypernatremia
C. Hyperkalemia
D. Hypocalcemia
Answer: C
Rationale: Hyperkalemia (high serum potassium) significantly affects cardiac conduction,
leading to peaked T waves and potentially fatal arrhythmias.
5. What is the primary cause of edema in a patient with liver failure and low
albumin levels?
A. Increased capillary hydrostatic pressure
B. Decreased plasma oncotic pressure
C. Increased capillary permeability
D. Lymphatic obstruction
Answer: B
Rationale: Albumin provides the majority of plasma oncotic pressure; when it is low, fluid
leaks out of the capillaries into the interstitial space.
, 6. A patient has a pH of 7.25, a pCO2 of 55 mmHg, and a HCO3- of 24 mEq/L.
What is the acid-base imbalance?
A. Respiratory acidosis
B. Respiratory alkalosis
C. Metabolic acidosis
D. Metabolic alkalosis
Answer: A
Rationale: The low pH indicates acidosis, and the high pCO2 indicates that the cause is
respiratory in nature.
7. Which immunoglobulin is primarily involved in Type I hypersensitivity
(allergic) reactions?
A. IgG
B. IgE
C. IgA
D. IgM
Answer: B
Rationale: IgE binds to mast cells and basophils, triggering the release of histamine during
an allergic reaction.
8. A patient presents with a ‘butterfly rash’ on the face and joint pain. These are
classic signs of:
A. Rheumatoid arthritis
B. Scleroderma
C. Systemic lupus erythematosus (SLE)
D. Ankylosing spondylitis
Answer: C
Rationale: SLE is a multi-system autoimmune disease often characterized by a malar
(butterfly) rash.
1. A patient’s biopsy reveals that one type of mature cell has been replaced by
another mature cell type. What is this cellular adaptation called?
A. Atrophy
B. Metaplasia
C. Hyperplasia
D. Dysplasia
Answer: B
Rationale: Metaplasia is the reversible replacement of one mature cell type by another,
often as a response to chronic irritation.
2. Which process describes programmed cell death characterized by the lack of
inflammation?
A. Necrosis
B. Autophagy
C. Infarction
D. Apoptosis
Answer: D
Rationale: Apoptosis is a distinct, programmed process of cellular self-destruction that
does not typically trigger an inflammatory response.
,3. A patient with chronic hypertension develops thickening of the left
ventricular wall. This is an example of:
A. Physiologic hypertrophy
B. Hormonal hyperplasia
C. Compensatory hyperplasia
D. Pathologic hypertrophy
Answer: D
Rationale: Pathologic hypertrophy occurs in response to abnormal stressors, such as the
heart pumping against high pressure in hypertension.
4. Which electrolyte imbalance is most likely to cause a widened QRS complex
and peaked T waves on an ECG?
A. Hypokalemia
B. Hypernatremia
C. Hyperkalemia
D. Hypocalcemia
Answer: C
Rationale: Hyperkalemia (high serum potassium) significantly affects cardiac conduction,
leading to peaked T waves and potentially fatal arrhythmias.
5. What is the primary cause of edema in a patient with liver failure and low
albumin levels?
A. Increased capillary hydrostatic pressure
B. Decreased plasma oncotic pressure
C. Increased capillary permeability
D. Lymphatic obstruction
Answer: B
Rationale: Albumin provides the majority of plasma oncotic pressure; when it is low, fluid
leaks out of the capillaries into the interstitial space.
, 6. A patient has a pH of 7.25, a pCO2 of 55 mmHg, and a HCO3- of 24 mEq/L.
What is the acid-base imbalance?
A. Respiratory acidosis
B. Respiratory alkalosis
C. Metabolic acidosis
D. Metabolic alkalosis
Answer: A
Rationale: The low pH indicates acidosis, and the high pCO2 indicates that the cause is
respiratory in nature.
7. Which immunoglobulin is primarily involved in Type I hypersensitivity
(allergic) reactions?
A. IgG
B. IgE
C. IgA
D. IgM
Answer: B
Rationale: IgE binds to mast cells and basophils, triggering the release of histamine during
an allergic reaction.
8. A patient presents with a ‘butterfly rash’ on the face and joint pain. These are
classic signs of:
A. Rheumatoid arthritis
B. Scleroderma
C. Systemic lupus erythematosus (SLE)
D. Ankylosing spondylitis
Answer: C
Rationale: SLE is a multi-system autoimmune disease often characterized by a malar
(butterfly) rash.
