WGU Pathophysiology D236 Exam/ Actual Exam
Questions with Correct Answers/ Latest 2024-
Graded A+
Identify role of DNA changes in congenital abnormalities. - ANSWER - Mutations in genes or
chromosomal abnormalities
How does development disrupts congenital abnormalities? - ANSWER - Alterations of DNA
Describes factors that disrupt homeostasis and how disruptions affect wellbeing. - ANSWER - (ex) Fluid
and electrolyte shifts can cause n/v or dysrhythmias.
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.
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
pg. 1
,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?
2 answers - ANSWER - The pathophysiology includes joint swelling and osteophyte formation.
pg. 2
,The most commonly affected joints are the knee, hip, hand, and proximal interphalangeal and distal
interphalangeal joints.
A healthcare professional examines a patient with a slow growing, small, dome shaped bump on the
nose. The lesion is shiny, translucent, and pearly in appearance.
Which type of lesion should this healthcare professional be concerned about? - ANSWER - Basal cell
carcinoma
The record of a 35 year old woman contains the following information:
Presentation: Sudden, transient motor and sensory disturbances, impaired vision, muscle weakness, and
balance problems.
Diagnostic work up including neurological exam, CT, MRI, and CSF analysis.
The patient's diagnosis is a chronic, autoimmune, progressive, and irreversible disease characterized by
the destruction of the myelin sheath.
Which condition does this patient have? - ANSWER - Multiple sclerosis
A patient presents with ringing in the ears, vomiting, and a severe headache after playing football and
taking a hard tackle. A CT scan shows that blood had accumulated in the surrounding brain tissue.
Which diagnosis is described? - ANSWER - Cerebral contusion
What is the pathogenesis of multiple sclerosis? - ANSWER - Damage to the myelin of the peripheral
nervous system.
What are two characteristics of a transient ischemic attack?
2 answers - ANSWER - Focal deficits resolve in less than 24 hours.
Symptoms last for minutes to hours.
What is a cerebrovascular accident marked by a blockage of blood flow due to a rupture in a cerebral
vessel? - ANSWER - Hemorrhagic stroke
Which two risk factors are associated with hypertension?
pg. 3
, 2 answers - ANSWER - Obesity and Diabetes Mellitus
What are two predisposing factors to deep venous thromboembolism?
2 answers - ANSWER - Hyper-coagulability
Vascular damage
What are two parts of the pathophysiology of DVT?
2 answers - ANSWER - A thrombus forms at an area of inflammation.
A thrombus develops in a lower extremity.
A patient presents with racing of the heart, palpitations, and shortness of breath. The patient's heart
rate was 130.
Which diagnosis is indicated by this description? - ANSWER - Atrial fibrillation
What is a characteristic of aneurysms? - ANSWER - Hypertension is a risk factor for aneurysm formation.
What is a clot or undissolved mass that is carried through the circulatory vessels by blood or lymph flow?
- ANSWER - Embolus
A patient's record shows chronic blood loss anemia.
Which form of anemia does this indicate? - ANSWER - Iron deficiency anemia
Which is this type of anemia Occurs when there are inadequate reserves of iron in the body. - ANSWER -
Iron deficiency anemia
Which is this type of anemia Occurs when there are inadequate stores of folic acid. - ANSWER - Folic acid
deficiency anemia
Which is this type of anemia Occurs when there are inadequate levels of B12. - ANSWER - Pernicious
anemia
pg. 4
Questions with Correct Answers/ Latest 2024-
Graded A+
Identify role of DNA changes in congenital abnormalities. - ANSWER - Mutations in genes or
chromosomal abnormalities
How does development disrupts congenital abnormalities? - ANSWER - Alterations of DNA
Describes factors that disrupt homeostasis and how disruptions affect wellbeing. - ANSWER - (ex) Fluid
and electrolyte shifts can cause n/v or dysrhythmias.
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.
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
pg. 1
,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?
2 answers - ANSWER - The pathophysiology includes joint swelling and osteophyte formation.
pg. 2
,The most commonly affected joints are the knee, hip, hand, and proximal interphalangeal and distal
interphalangeal joints.
A healthcare professional examines a patient with a slow growing, small, dome shaped bump on the
nose. The lesion is shiny, translucent, and pearly in appearance.
Which type of lesion should this healthcare professional be concerned about? - ANSWER - Basal cell
carcinoma
The record of a 35 year old woman contains the following information:
Presentation: Sudden, transient motor and sensory disturbances, impaired vision, muscle weakness, and
balance problems.
Diagnostic work up including neurological exam, CT, MRI, and CSF analysis.
The patient's diagnosis is a chronic, autoimmune, progressive, and irreversible disease characterized by
the destruction of the myelin sheath.
Which condition does this patient have? - ANSWER - Multiple sclerosis
A patient presents with ringing in the ears, vomiting, and a severe headache after playing football and
taking a hard tackle. A CT scan shows that blood had accumulated in the surrounding brain tissue.
Which diagnosis is described? - ANSWER - Cerebral contusion
What is the pathogenesis of multiple sclerosis? - ANSWER - Damage to the myelin of the peripheral
nervous system.
What are two characteristics of a transient ischemic attack?
2 answers - ANSWER - Focal deficits resolve in less than 24 hours.
Symptoms last for minutes to hours.
What is a cerebrovascular accident marked by a blockage of blood flow due to a rupture in a cerebral
vessel? - ANSWER - Hemorrhagic stroke
Which two risk factors are associated with hypertension?
pg. 3
, 2 answers - ANSWER - Obesity and Diabetes Mellitus
What are two predisposing factors to deep venous thromboembolism?
2 answers - ANSWER - Hyper-coagulability
Vascular damage
What are two parts of the pathophysiology of DVT?
2 answers - ANSWER - A thrombus forms at an area of inflammation.
A thrombus develops in a lower extremity.
A patient presents with racing of the heart, palpitations, and shortness of breath. The patient's heart
rate was 130.
Which diagnosis is indicated by this description? - ANSWER - Atrial fibrillation
What is a characteristic of aneurysms? - ANSWER - Hypertension is a risk factor for aneurysm formation.
What is a clot or undissolved mass that is carried through the circulatory vessels by blood or lymph flow?
- ANSWER - Embolus
A patient's record shows chronic blood loss anemia.
Which form of anemia does this indicate? - ANSWER - Iron deficiency anemia
Which is this type of anemia Occurs when there are inadequate reserves of iron in the body. - ANSWER -
Iron deficiency anemia
Which is this type of anemia Occurs when there are inadequate stores of folic acid. - ANSWER - Folic acid
deficiency anemia
Which is this type of anemia Occurs when there are inadequate levels of B12. - ANSWER - Pernicious
anemia
pg. 4
