WGU D236
Pathophysiology | Exam Questions &
Answers with Detailed Rationales |
2026
Resource Features
➢ D236 Pathophysiology practice questions
➢ Answers with detailed rationales
➢ Disease-process explanations
➢ Clinical scenario questions
➢ Body-system review
➢ Medical terminology
➢ Pathophysiology-focused exam preparation
➢ 2026 course review
, WGU D236 Pathophysiology | Exam
Questions & Answers with Detailed
Rationales | 2026
Question 1
What is Starling's Law of Capillary forces, and how does this explain why a
nutritionally deficient child would have edema?
A) High protein concentrations in the blood cause water to enter the
capillaries, leading to edema
B) Low protein concentrations in the blood cause water to leave the
capillaries and enter the interstitial fluid, leading to edema
C) High electrolyte concentrations cause water to leave the cells, leading to
edema
D) Low hydrostatic pressure causes water to accumulate in the capillaries,
leading to edema
Answer: B
Rationale: Starling's Law describes fluid movement across capillary
membranes based on hydrostatic and osmotic pressures. Nutritionally
deficient children have low protein (oncotic) concentrations, reducing
osmotic pressure that normally pulls water into capillaries. This causes
water to leave the capillaries and accumulate in interstitial spaces, resulting
in edema.
,Question 2
How does the RAAS (Renin-Angiotensin-Aldosterone System) result in
increased blood volume and increased blood pressure?
A) Renin directly causes vasodilation and decreases blood pressure
B) Aldosterone increases sodium and water reabsorption while increasing
potassium excretion
C) Angiotensin II decreases peripheral arterial resistance
D) Aldosterone causes potassium retention and sodium excretion
Answer: B
Rationale: The RAAS system increases blood volume and pressure through
aldosterone, which promotes sodium and water reabsorption in the kidneys
while increasing potassium excretion. Angiotensin II causes
vasoconstriction, and renin is the initial trigger. The system does not cause
vasodilation or decrease blood pressure.
Question 3
How can hyperkalemia lead to cardiac arrest?
A) Low potassium levels cause muscle weakness and respiratory failure
B) High potassium levels disrupt normal nerve impulse conduction in the
heart muscle
C) Hyperkalemia causes hypocalcemia, leading to cardiac arrhythmias
D) Potassium acts as a diuretic, causing dehydration and cardiac stress
, Answer: B
Rationale: Hyperkalemia (potassium >5.2 mEq/dL) disrupts normal nerve
impulse conduction in cardiac muscle, leading to irregular heartbeats that
can progress to ventricular fibrillation and cardiac arrest. Potassium is
essential for muscle contraction; both low and high levels can be
dangerous, but high levels directly affect cardiac conduction.
Question 4
A patient with diabetic ketoacidosis would present with which of the
following arterial blood gas findings?
A) pH less than 7.35, low HCO3, low PCO2
B) pH greater than 7.45, high HCO3, high PCO2
C) pH less than 7.35, high PCO2, normal HCO3
D) pH greater than 7.45, low PCO2, normal HCO3
Answer: A
Rationale: DKA causes metabolic acidosis: pH <7.35, low bicarbonate
(HCO3) due to buffering ketones, and low PCO2 as respiratory
compensation. Option B is metabolic alkalosis, C is respiratory acidosis, and
D is respiratory alkalosis.
Question 5
Why would an increased anion gap be observed in diabetic ketoacidosis or
lactic acidosis?
Pathophysiology | Exam Questions &
Answers with Detailed Rationales |
2026
Resource Features
➢ D236 Pathophysiology practice questions
➢ Answers with detailed rationales
➢ Disease-process explanations
➢ Clinical scenario questions
➢ Body-system review
➢ Medical terminology
➢ Pathophysiology-focused exam preparation
➢ 2026 course review
, WGU D236 Pathophysiology | Exam
Questions & Answers with Detailed
Rationales | 2026
Question 1
What is Starling's Law of Capillary forces, and how does this explain why a
nutritionally deficient child would have edema?
A) High protein concentrations in the blood cause water to enter the
capillaries, leading to edema
B) Low protein concentrations in the blood cause water to leave the
capillaries and enter the interstitial fluid, leading to edema
C) High electrolyte concentrations cause water to leave the cells, leading to
edema
D) Low hydrostatic pressure causes water to accumulate in the capillaries,
leading to edema
Answer: B
Rationale: Starling's Law describes fluid movement across capillary
membranes based on hydrostatic and osmotic pressures. Nutritionally
deficient children have low protein (oncotic) concentrations, reducing
osmotic pressure that normally pulls water into capillaries. This causes
water to leave the capillaries and accumulate in interstitial spaces, resulting
in edema.
,Question 2
How does the RAAS (Renin-Angiotensin-Aldosterone System) result in
increased blood volume and increased blood pressure?
A) Renin directly causes vasodilation and decreases blood pressure
B) Aldosterone increases sodium and water reabsorption while increasing
potassium excretion
C) Angiotensin II decreases peripheral arterial resistance
D) Aldosterone causes potassium retention and sodium excretion
Answer: B
Rationale: The RAAS system increases blood volume and pressure through
aldosterone, which promotes sodium and water reabsorption in the kidneys
while increasing potassium excretion. Angiotensin II causes
vasoconstriction, and renin is the initial trigger. The system does not cause
vasodilation or decrease blood pressure.
Question 3
How can hyperkalemia lead to cardiac arrest?
A) Low potassium levels cause muscle weakness and respiratory failure
B) High potassium levels disrupt normal nerve impulse conduction in the
heart muscle
C) Hyperkalemia causes hypocalcemia, leading to cardiac arrhythmias
D) Potassium acts as a diuretic, causing dehydration and cardiac stress
, Answer: B
Rationale: Hyperkalemia (potassium >5.2 mEq/dL) disrupts normal nerve
impulse conduction in cardiac muscle, leading to irregular heartbeats that
can progress to ventricular fibrillation and cardiac arrest. Potassium is
essential for muscle contraction; both low and high levels can be
dangerous, but high levels directly affect cardiac conduction.
Question 4
A patient with diabetic ketoacidosis would present with which of the
following arterial blood gas findings?
A) pH less than 7.35, low HCO3, low PCO2
B) pH greater than 7.45, high HCO3, high PCO2
C) pH less than 7.35, high PCO2, normal HCO3
D) pH greater than 7.45, low PCO2, normal HCO3
Answer: A
Rationale: DKA causes metabolic acidosis: pH <7.35, low bicarbonate
(HCO3) due to buffering ketones, and low PCO2 as respiratory
compensation. Option B is metabolic alkalosis, C is respiratory acidosis, and
D is respiratory alkalosis.
Question 5
Why would an increased anion gap be observed in diabetic ketoacidosis or
lactic acidosis?
