WGU D236 Pathophysiology EXAM STUDY
GUIDE 2026/2027 ACCURATE QUESTIONS
WITH CORRECT DETAILED SOLUTIONS ||
100% GUARANTEED PASS
<NEWEST VERSION>
1. Describe how your body responds to an infection. - ANSWER ✔ T cells
produce cytokines, which stimulate B cells. B cells produce antibodies.
2. Identify role of DNA changes in congenital abnormalities. - ANSWER ✔
Mutations in genes or chromosomal abnormalities
3. How does development disrupts congenital abnormalities? - ANSWER ✔
Alterations of DNA
4. Describes factors that disrupt homeostasis and how disruptions affect
wellbeing. - ANSWER ✔ (ex) Fluid and electrolyte shifts can cause n/v or
dysrhythmias.
5. Explain RAAS - ANSWER ✔ Renin-angiotensin-aldosterone system
1. Reduce blood flow causes kidneys to release renin
- produce angiotensin I > converts angiotensin I to angiotensin II >
vasoconstriction > release aldosterone > kidneys conserve sodium and
water > Result less water lost in urine and blood pressure maintained.
6. DKA - ANSWER ✔ increased anion gap, decreased HCO3
7. How do kidneys compensate for alkalosis - ANSWER ✔ retain H and
excrete HCO3
8. Untreated acidosis leads to an increase in which electrolyte? - ANSWER ✔
Potassium
,9. West Nile Virus - ANSWER ✔ Transmitted through the bite of an infected
mosquito. Severe signs and symptoms; high fever, headache and stiff neck
10.Lyme disease - ANSWER ✔ Tick-borne disease caused by the spirochete
Borrelia burgdorferi.
11.Erythema infectiosum - ANSWER ✔ a febrile upper respiratory illness in a
child followed by the sudden appearance of red, flushed cheeks, "fifth
disease"
12.Obesity ad diabetes are risk factors for having a child with _____. -
ANSWER ✔ Spina bifida
13.Trousseau's sign - ANSWER ✔ arm/carpal spasm associated with
hypocalcemia
14.How and why does our injury response result in the signs of
redness, swelling, heat, and pain? Be sure to use chemokines,
histamine, and vasodilation in your response. - ANSWER ✔ Our body first
releases cytokines which produce
inflammatory cells or chemokines directly to the affected area to
stimulate healing. Vasodilation occurs simultaneously to
facilitate quicker and easier movement of inflammatory cells to
the area.
15.How do you determine the probability of clinical outcomes
given information about the parents (e.g., two heterozygous
carriers of sickle cell disease)? - ANSWER ✔ In two heterozygous (two
different gene sets)
carriers (one dominant and one recessive gene), this creates a
50% chance outcome of offspring having sickle cell disease
16.How do calcitonin, parathyroid hormone, and calcitriol (Vitamin
D) work together to maintain normal blood calcium levels? - ANSWER ✔
Calcitonin and PTH work oppositely to balance
calcium. The three work together to shift calcium into bones, organs, and blood
,17.What is the function of osteocytes within lacunae of bone? - ANSWER ✔
Osteocytes maintain bone mass through
anabolic activities; they promote bone repair through
recruitment of osteoclast-mediated turnover
18.What is bone remodeling? Which cells are involved in this
process and what is their function? - ANSWER ✔ Osteoclasts destroy old,
degenerative cells to
make room for new ones. Osteoblasts build new bone cells. Osteocytes
facilitate this process and help retain calcium for
bone strength and health.
19.What is the process of articular degeneration? Which cells are
involved in this process and what is their function? - ANSWER ✔ Articular
degeneration is also known as
osteoarthritis. Macrophages are the primary cell involved, and
they induce inflammation.
20.How does denosumab treat osteoporosis? - ANSWER ✔ Denosumab is an
antibody that slows down the
natural rate your bones are broken down. It works by blocking a
protein and suppressing the cells that break down bone.
21.How does compartment syndrome develop? Which part of our
body tends to develop compartment syndrome? How do patients
typically recognize they may need to seek medical assistance for
rhabdomyolysis? What is the most sensitive laboratory test for
rhabdomyolysis? - ANSWER ✔ Compartment syndrome occurs when blood
flow is restricted to an area for an extended period of time. It
usually develops in extremities. Patients recognize rhabdomyolysis by new
muscle pain and decreased urinary
output, and it is detected by creatine kinase in the blood.
22.What is a pulmonary embolism? What is a fat embolism? When
might a patient develop a pulmonary embolism? When might a
patient develop a fat embolism? How are they treated? - ANSWER ✔
Pulmonary embolism is when a blood clot is
lodged in a pulmonary artery, usually caused by a traveling clot
getting lodged. A fat embolism is when a clot of fat cells
, disrupts blood flow, usually after a bone fracture. PEs are
treated with anticoagulants to thin the blood, while there is no
specific treatment for FEs.
23.What is albinism? What portions of the body are negatively
affected by albinism? - ANSWER ✔ It is an alteration in a gene that has
decreased
pigment to skin, hair, and eyes.
24.How does retinal detachment lead to vision loss? - ANSWER ✔ The areas
where the retina detaches lose their
blood supply and stop working, causing you to lose vision.
25.What are two biomarkers that can be used to confirm a
myocardial infarction occurred and what types of molecules are
they? - ANSWER ✔ Troponin, creatine kinase
26.What is lymph? - ANSWER ✔ Fluid that flows in the lymphatic system to
return fluid from tissues into circulation
27.What are lymph nodes? - ANSWER ✔ Filter interstitial fluid. Swollen
glands mean
you are fighting an infection
28.What are Peyer's patches? - ANSWER ✔ The numerous areas of lymphoid
tissue in the
wall of the small intestine that are involved in the development of immunity to
antigens present there.
29.What is the difference between Hodgkin's Lymphoma and Non-
Hodgkin's Lymphoma? - ANSWER ✔ If the Reed-Sternberg cell is not
present, the
lymphoma is classified as non-Hodgkin's.
30.What is emphysema (COPD)? - ANSWER ✔ Overdistention of alveoli
resulting in the ability
to remove CO2 is called
GUIDE 2026/2027 ACCURATE QUESTIONS
WITH CORRECT DETAILED SOLUTIONS ||
100% GUARANTEED PASS
<NEWEST VERSION>
1. Describe how your body responds to an infection. - ANSWER ✔ T cells
produce cytokines, which stimulate B cells. B cells produce antibodies.
2. Identify role of DNA changes in congenital abnormalities. - ANSWER ✔
Mutations in genes or chromosomal abnormalities
3. How does development disrupts congenital abnormalities? - ANSWER ✔
Alterations of DNA
4. Describes factors that disrupt homeostasis and how disruptions affect
wellbeing. - ANSWER ✔ (ex) Fluid and electrolyte shifts can cause n/v or
dysrhythmias.
5. Explain RAAS - ANSWER ✔ Renin-angiotensin-aldosterone system
1. Reduce blood flow causes kidneys to release renin
- produce angiotensin I > converts angiotensin I to angiotensin II >
vasoconstriction > release aldosterone > kidneys conserve sodium and
water > Result less water lost in urine and blood pressure maintained.
6. DKA - ANSWER ✔ increased anion gap, decreased HCO3
7. How do kidneys compensate for alkalosis - ANSWER ✔ retain H and
excrete HCO3
8. Untreated acidosis leads to an increase in which electrolyte? - ANSWER ✔
Potassium
,9. West Nile Virus - ANSWER ✔ Transmitted through the bite of an infected
mosquito. Severe signs and symptoms; high fever, headache and stiff neck
10.Lyme disease - ANSWER ✔ Tick-borne disease caused by the spirochete
Borrelia burgdorferi.
11.Erythema infectiosum - ANSWER ✔ a febrile upper respiratory illness in a
child followed by the sudden appearance of red, flushed cheeks, "fifth
disease"
12.Obesity ad diabetes are risk factors for having a child with _____. -
ANSWER ✔ Spina bifida
13.Trousseau's sign - ANSWER ✔ arm/carpal spasm associated with
hypocalcemia
14.How and why does our injury response result in the signs of
redness, swelling, heat, and pain? Be sure to use chemokines,
histamine, and vasodilation in your response. - ANSWER ✔ Our body first
releases cytokines which produce
inflammatory cells or chemokines directly to the affected area to
stimulate healing. Vasodilation occurs simultaneously to
facilitate quicker and easier movement of inflammatory cells to
the area.
15.How do you determine the probability of clinical outcomes
given information about the parents (e.g., two heterozygous
carriers of sickle cell disease)? - ANSWER ✔ In two heterozygous (two
different gene sets)
carriers (one dominant and one recessive gene), this creates a
50% chance outcome of offspring having sickle cell disease
16.How do calcitonin, parathyroid hormone, and calcitriol (Vitamin
D) work together to maintain normal blood calcium levels? - ANSWER ✔
Calcitonin and PTH work oppositely to balance
calcium. The three work together to shift calcium into bones, organs, and blood
,17.What is the function of osteocytes within lacunae of bone? - ANSWER ✔
Osteocytes maintain bone mass through
anabolic activities; they promote bone repair through
recruitment of osteoclast-mediated turnover
18.What is bone remodeling? Which cells are involved in this
process and what is their function? - ANSWER ✔ Osteoclasts destroy old,
degenerative cells to
make room for new ones. Osteoblasts build new bone cells. Osteocytes
facilitate this process and help retain calcium for
bone strength and health.
19.What is the process of articular degeneration? Which cells are
involved in this process and what is their function? - ANSWER ✔ Articular
degeneration is also known as
osteoarthritis. Macrophages are the primary cell involved, and
they induce inflammation.
20.How does denosumab treat osteoporosis? - ANSWER ✔ Denosumab is an
antibody that slows down the
natural rate your bones are broken down. It works by blocking a
protein and suppressing the cells that break down bone.
21.How does compartment syndrome develop? Which part of our
body tends to develop compartment syndrome? How do patients
typically recognize they may need to seek medical assistance for
rhabdomyolysis? What is the most sensitive laboratory test for
rhabdomyolysis? - ANSWER ✔ Compartment syndrome occurs when blood
flow is restricted to an area for an extended period of time. It
usually develops in extremities. Patients recognize rhabdomyolysis by new
muscle pain and decreased urinary
output, and it is detected by creatine kinase in the blood.
22.What is a pulmonary embolism? What is a fat embolism? When
might a patient develop a pulmonary embolism? When might a
patient develop a fat embolism? How are they treated? - ANSWER ✔
Pulmonary embolism is when a blood clot is
lodged in a pulmonary artery, usually caused by a traveling clot
getting lodged. A fat embolism is when a clot of fat cells
, disrupts blood flow, usually after a bone fracture. PEs are
treated with anticoagulants to thin the blood, while there is no
specific treatment for FEs.
23.What is albinism? What portions of the body are negatively
affected by albinism? - ANSWER ✔ It is an alteration in a gene that has
decreased
pigment to skin, hair, and eyes.
24.How does retinal detachment lead to vision loss? - ANSWER ✔ The areas
where the retina detaches lose their
blood supply and stop working, causing you to lose vision.
25.What are two biomarkers that can be used to confirm a
myocardial infarction occurred and what types of molecules are
they? - ANSWER ✔ Troponin, creatine kinase
26.What is lymph? - ANSWER ✔ Fluid that flows in the lymphatic system to
return fluid from tissues into circulation
27.What are lymph nodes? - ANSWER ✔ Filter interstitial fluid. Swollen
glands mean
you are fighting an infection
28.What are Peyer's patches? - ANSWER ✔ The numerous areas of lymphoid
tissue in the
wall of the small intestine that are involved in the development of immunity to
antigens present there.
29.What is the difference between Hodgkin's Lymphoma and Non-
Hodgkin's Lymphoma? - ANSWER ✔ If the Reed-Sternberg cell is not
present, the
lymphoma is classified as non-Hodgkin's.
30.What is emphysema (COPD)? - ANSWER ✔ Overdistention of alveoli
resulting in the ability
to remove CO2 is called
