D236 Pathophysiology Week 5 Practice Exam 2026 |WGU
1. Which of the following is a common cause of prerenal acute kidney injury
(AKI)?
A. Hypovolemia and hypotension
B. Glomerulonephritis
C. Bladder outlet obstruction
D. Nephrotoxic medications
Answer: A
Rationale: Prerenal AKI is caused by factors that decrease blood flow to the kidneys, such
as dehydration, hemorrhage, or heart failure.
2. A patient presents with massive proteinuria, hypoalbuminemia, and
generalized edema. Which condition is most likely?
A. Nephritic syndrome
B. Cystitis
C. Renal calculi
D. Nephrotic syndrome
Answer: D
Rationale: Nephrotic syndrome is characterized by heavy proteinuria (over 3.5g/day),
which leads to low serum albumin and edema.
,3. What is the primary cause of anemia in patients with Chronic Kidney Disease
(CKD)?
A. Chronic blood loss during dialysis
B. Premature destruction of red blood cells
C. Iron deficiency due to poor diet
D. Inadequate production of erythropoietin
Answer: D
Rationale: The kidneys produce erythropoietin; in CKD, damaged kidneys cannot produce
enough, leading to decreased red blood cell production.
4. Postrenal acute kidney injury is most likely caused by which of the following?
A. Antibiotic toxicity
B. Contrast dye exposure
C. Myocardial infarction
D. Benign Prostatic Hyperplasia (BPH)
Answer: D
Rationale: Postrenal AKI results from obstruction of urine flow anywhere from the renal
pelvis to the urethra, such as BPH or kidney stones.
5. Which laboratory value is the most accurate indicator of overall kidney
function?
A. Serum Potassium
B. Blood Urea Nitrogen (BUN)
C. Urine Specific Gravity
D. Glomerular Filtration Rate (GFR)
Answer: D
Rationale: GFR measures how much blood passes through the glomeruli each minute and
is the gold standard for assessing renal function.
, 6. A patient with CKD is experiencing hyperkalemia. This is dangerous primarily
because it can lead to:
A. Encephalopathy
B. Pathologic fractures
C. Cardiac dysrhythmias
D. Pulmonary edema
Answer: C
Rationale: Hyperkalemia (high potassium) interferes with the electrical conduction of the
heart, potentially causing fatal arrhythmias.
7. Pyelonephritis is an infection located in which part of the urinary tract?
A. Urethra
B. Renal pelvis and parenchyma
C. Bladder
D. Ureters
Answer: B
Rationale: Pyelonephritis is an upper urinary tract infection involving the kidney tissue
and renal pelvis.
8. A patient presents with hematuria, hypertension, and RBC casts in the urine.
This clinical picture is consistent with:
A. Interstitial cystitis
B. Nephrotic syndrome
C. Nephrolithiasis
D. Nephritic syndrome
Answer: D
Rationale: Nephritic syndrome involves inflammation of the glomeruli, leading to blood in
the urine (hematuria) and hypertension.
1. Which of the following is a common cause of prerenal acute kidney injury
(AKI)?
A. Hypovolemia and hypotension
B. Glomerulonephritis
C. Bladder outlet obstruction
D. Nephrotoxic medications
Answer: A
Rationale: Prerenal AKI is caused by factors that decrease blood flow to the kidneys, such
as dehydration, hemorrhage, or heart failure.
2. A patient presents with massive proteinuria, hypoalbuminemia, and
generalized edema. Which condition is most likely?
A. Nephritic syndrome
B. Cystitis
C. Renal calculi
D. Nephrotic syndrome
Answer: D
Rationale: Nephrotic syndrome is characterized by heavy proteinuria (over 3.5g/day),
which leads to low serum albumin and edema.
,3. What is the primary cause of anemia in patients with Chronic Kidney Disease
(CKD)?
A. Chronic blood loss during dialysis
B. Premature destruction of red blood cells
C. Iron deficiency due to poor diet
D. Inadequate production of erythropoietin
Answer: D
Rationale: The kidneys produce erythropoietin; in CKD, damaged kidneys cannot produce
enough, leading to decreased red blood cell production.
4. Postrenal acute kidney injury is most likely caused by which of the following?
A. Antibiotic toxicity
B. Contrast dye exposure
C. Myocardial infarction
D. Benign Prostatic Hyperplasia (BPH)
Answer: D
Rationale: Postrenal AKI results from obstruction of urine flow anywhere from the renal
pelvis to the urethra, such as BPH or kidney stones.
5. Which laboratory value is the most accurate indicator of overall kidney
function?
A. Serum Potassium
B. Blood Urea Nitrogen (BUN)
C. Urine Specific Gravity
D. Glomerular Filtration Rate (GFR)
Answer: D
Rationale: GFR measures how much blood passes through the glomeruli each minute and
is the gold standard for assessing renal function.
, 6. A patient with CKD is experiencing hyperkalemia. This is dangerous primarily
because it can lead to:
A. Encephalopathy
B. Pathologic fractures
C. Cardiac dysrhythmias
D. Pulmonary edema
Answer: C
Rationale: Hyperkalemia (high potassium) interferes with the electrical conduction of the
heart, potentially causing fatal arrhythmias.
7. Pyelonephritis is an infection located in which part of the urinary tract?
A. Urethra
B. Renal pelvis and parenchyma
C. Bladder
D. Ureters
Answer: B
Rationale: Pyelonephritis is an upper urinary tract infection involving the kidney tissue
and renal pelvis.
8. A patient presents with hematuria, hypertension, and RBC casts in the urine.
This clinical picture is consistent with:
A. Interstitial cystitis
B. Nephrotic syndrome
C. Nephrolithiasis
D. Nephritic syndrome
Answer: D
Rationale: Nephritic syndrome involves inflammation of the glomeruli, leading to blood in
the urine (hematuria) and hypertension.
