WGU D236: Pathophysiology Exam (Latest 2025/2026 Update) |100 Questions with Verified Answers and Rationale | Graded A.

WGU D236: Pathophysiology Exam i,- i,- i,- i,-




(Latest 2025/2026 Update) |100 i,- i,- i,- i,-




Questions with Verified Answers and i,- i,- i,- i,- i,-




Rationale | Graded A. i,- i,- i,-




What is a way that Adaptive Immunity can recruit innate
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immunity? The innate immune response to microbes
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stimulates adaptive immune responses and influences the nature
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of the adaptive responses.
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Conversely, adaptive immune responses often work by enhancing
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the protective mechanisms of innate immunity, making them
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more capable of effectively combating pathogenic microbes
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Why are some infections harder on children while other infections
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are harder on the elderly?
i,- Children have not been exposed to
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many pathogens yet, so they lack memory cells and have not
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built-up immunity yet. i,- i,- i,-




The elderly have a depleted naïve T cell population from years of
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battling infections, so the likelihood of getting a match is less.
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What is Starling's Law of Capillary forces?
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,How does this explain why a nutritionally deficient child would
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have edema? i,-Starling's Law describes how fluids move across i,-i,- i,- i,- i,- i,- i,- i,- i,- i,-



the capillary membrane. There are two major opposing forces
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that act to balance each other, hydrostatic pressure (pushing
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water out of the capillaries) and osmotic pressure (including
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oncontic pressure, which pushes fluid into the capillaries).
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Both electrolytes and proteins (oncontic pressure) in the blood
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affect osmotic pressure, high electrolyte and protein
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concentrations in the blood would cause water to leave the cells i,- i,- i,- i,- i,- i,- i,- i,- i,- i,- i,-



and interstitial space and enter the blood stream to dilute the
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high concentrations.
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On, the other hand, low electrolyte and protein concentrations (as
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seen in a nutritionally deficient child) would cause water to leave
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the capillaries and enter the cells and interstitial fluid which can
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lead to edema.
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How does the RAAS (Renin-Angiotensin-Aldosterone System)
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result in increased blood volume and increased blood pressure?
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A drop in blood pressure is sensed by the kidneys by low
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perfusion, which in turn begins to secrete renin.i,- i,- i,- i,- i,- i,- i,- i,-




Renin then triggers the liver to produce angiotensinogen, which is
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converted to Angiotensin I in the lungs and then angiotensin II by
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the enzyme
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,Angiotensin-converting enzyme (ACE). Angiotensin II stimulates i,- i,- i,- i,- i,- i,-



peripheral arterial vasoconstriction which raises BP. i,- i,- i,- i,- i,- i,-




Angiotensin II is also stimulating the adrenal gland to release i,- i,- i,- i,- i,- i,- i,- i,- i,- i,-



aldosterone, which acts to increase sodium and water i,- i,- i,- i,- i,- i,- i,- i,-



reabsorption increasing blood volume, while also increased i,- i,- i,- i,- i,- i,- i,-



potassium secretion in urine. i,- i,- i,-




How can hyperkalemia lead to cardiac arrest?
i,- i,- Normal levels i,- i,- i,- i,- i,-i,- i,- i,- i,-



of potassium are between 3.5 and 5.2 mEq/dL. Hyperkalemia
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refers to potassium levels higher that 5.2 mEq/dL.
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A major function of potassium is to conduct nerve impulses in
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muscles. Too low and muscle weakness occurs and too much can
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cause muscle spasms. i,- i,- i,-




This is especially dangerous in the heart muscle and an irregular
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heartbeat can cause a heart attack i,- i,- i,- i,- i,-




The body uses the Protein Buffering System, Phosphate Buffering
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System, and Carbonic Acid-Bicarbonate System to regulate and
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maintain homeostatic pH, what is the consequence of a pH
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imbalance Proteins contain many acidic and basic group that
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can be affected by pH changes. Any increase or decrease in blood
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pH can alter the structure of the protein (denature), thereby
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affecting its function as well i,- i,- i,- i,-

, Describe the laboratory findings associated with metabolic
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acidosis, metabolic alkalosis, respiratory acidosis and respiratory
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alkalosis. (ie relative pH and CO2 levels).
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(Arterial Blood Gases) Blood pH: 7.35-7.45 PCO2: 35-45 mm Hg
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PO2: 90-100 mm Hg HCO3-: 22-26 mEq/L SaO2: 95-100%
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Respiratory acidosis and alkalosis are marked by changes in
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PCO2. Higher = acidosis and lower = alkalosis
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Metabolic acidosis and alkalosis are caused by something other
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than abnormal CO2 levels. This could include toxicity, diabetes,
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renal failure or excessive GI losses.
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Here are the rules to follow to determine if is respiratory or
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metabolic in nature. -If pH and PCO2 are moving in opposite
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directions, then it is the pCO2 levels that are causing the
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imbalance and it is respiratory in nature. i,- i,- i,- i,- i,- i,- i,-




-If PCO2 is normal or is moving in the same direction as the pH,
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then the imbalance is metabolic in nature.
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The anion gap is the difference between measured cations (Na+
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and K+) and measured anions (Cl- and HCO3-), this calculation
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can be useful in determining the cause of metabolic acidosis.
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Why would an increased anion gap be observed in diabetic
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ketoacidosis or lactic acidosis? The anion gap is the i,- i,- i,- i,-i,- i,- i,- i,- i,- i,- i,-



calculation of unmeasured anions in the blood. i,- i,- i,- i,- i,- i,- i,-