D236 Pathophysiology practice Test
QUESTIONS AND EXPLAINED ANSWERS 2025
Western Governors University
Your patient has experienced significant blood loss due to an injury
incurred in a car accident.
Which physiological response is to be expected?
• The adrenal gland will stop releasing aldosterone.
• ADH will stimulate the kidneys to reabsorb more water.
• The RAAS will be inactivated.
• Vasodilation will help to reduce blood
pressure. Correct:
ADH is produced in response to hypovolemia and stimulates
the patient's kidney to reabsorb water. This reabsorption will
help to compensate for the blood loss.
,Respiratory rate increases during exercise.
How does this increased respiratory rate allow the body to maintain a
homeostatic pH level?
•The increased inhalation of CO2 helps to increase pH.
•The increased inhalation of CO2 helps to decrease pH.
•The increased exhalation of CO2 helps to increase pH.
•The increased exhalation of CO2 helps to decrease pH.
correct
Answer
Correct:
The increased respiratory rate allows more CO2 to be exhaled. Since
CO2 reacts with water to form carbonic acid, getting rid of more CO 2
through increased respiration will raise pH.
An ICU patient's arterial blood gas results show low pH and low CO2
levels. The patient's respiratory rate is increased.
What is the name of this condition?
• Respiratory alkalosis
• Metabolic acidosis
• Respiratory acidosis
• Metabolic alkalosis
correct
,Answer
Correct:
Since the pH is low, and the pH and CO2 are trending in the same
direction, the condition is metabolic acidosis. The low CO 2 indicates
that CO2 is not causing the acidosis. The increased respiratory rate
lowers blood CO2 in an attempt to compensate for the metabolic
acidosis.
Your patient has type I diabetes and has developed kidney disease
requiring dialysis. The patient is diligent about caring for themselves and
wants to maintain as much independence as possible.
Which course of treatment would address the patient's kidney disease
while allowing the patient to care for this condition at home?
• Sugar tablets
• An insulin pump
• Peritoneal dialysis
• Hemodialysis
correct
Answer
Correct:
Peritoneal dialysis helps to remove harmful substances from the blood and
maintain homeostatic electrolyte levels when the kidneys are not
performing these functions. It can be done from home.
Your patient has pulmonary edema, which raises levels of CO2 in the
blood. What helps the patient's body to compensate for this
increase?
• The kidneys conserve H+ and excrete more HCO3-.
• The kidneys excrete more H+ and conserve HCO3-.
• The kidneys conserve both H+ and HCO3-.
, • The kidneys excrete more H+ and more HCO3-.
correct
Answer
Correct:
The increased CO2 level will generate more carbonic acid. The body must
compensate for the decreased pH. Excreting more H+ and conserving
HCO3- will both help to increase pH.
QUESTIONS AND EXPLAINED ANSWERS 2025
Western Governors University
Your patient has experienced significant blood loss due to an injury
incurred in a car accident.
Which physiological response is to be expected?
• The adrenal gland will stop releasing aldosterone.
• ADH will stimulate the kidneys to reabsorb more water.
• The RAAS will be inactivated.
• Vasodilation will help to reduce blood
pressure. Correct:
ADH is produced in response to hypovolemia and stimulates
the patient's kidney to reabsorb water. This reabsorption will
help to compensate for the blood loss.
,Respiratory rate increases during exercise.
How does this increased respiratory rate allow the body to maintain a
homeostatic pH level?
•The increased inhalation of CO2 helps to increase pH.
•The increased inhalation of CO2 helps to decrease pH.
•The increased exhalation of CO2 helps to increase pH.
•The increased exhalation of CO2 helps to decrease pH.
correct
Answer
Correct:
The increased respiratory rate allows more CO2 to be exhaled. Since
CO2 reacts with water to form carbonic acid, getting rid of more CO 2
through increased respiration will raise pH.
An ICU patient's arterial blood gas results show low pH and low CO2
levels. The patient's respiratory rate is increased.
What is the name of this condition?
• Respiratory alkalosis
• Metabolic acidosis
• Respiratory acidosis
• Metabolic alkalosis
correct
,Answer
Correct:
Since the pH is low, and the pH and CO2 are trending in the same
direction, the condition is metabolic acidosis. The low CO 2 indicates
that CO2 is not causing the acidosis. The increased respiratory rate
lowers blood CO2 in an attempt to compensate for the metabolic
acidosis.
Your patient has type I diabetes and has developed kidney disease
requiring dialysis. The patient is diligent about caring for themselves and
wants to maintain as much independence as possible.
Which course of treatment would address the patient's kidney disease
while allowing the patient to care for this condition at home?
• Sugar tablets
• An insulin pump
• Peritoneal dialysis
• Hemodialysis
correct
Answer
Correct:
Peritoneal dialysis helps to remove harmful substances from the blood and
maintain homeostatic electrolyte levels when the kidneys are not
performing these functions. It can be done from home.
Your patient has pulmonary edema, which raises levels of CO2 in the
blood. What helps the patient's body to compensate for this
increase?
• The kidneys conserve H+ and excrete more HCO3-.
• The kidneys excrete more H+ and conserve HCO3-.
• The kidneys conserve both H+ and HCO3-.
, • The kidneys excrete more H+ and more HCO3-.
correct
Answer
Correct:
The increased CO2 level will generate more carbonic acid. The body must
compensate for the decreased pH. Excreting more H+ and conserving
HCO3- will both help to increase pH.
