. WGU D236 PATHOPHYSIOLOGY OBJECTIVE
ASSESSMENT | QUESTIONS WITH ANSWERS
2025/2026
Describe how your body responds to an infection. - ANSWER: T cells produce cytokines,
which stimulate B cells. B cells produce antibodies.
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.
DKA - ANSWER: increased anion gap, decreased HCO3
How do kidneys compensate for alkalosis - ANSWER: retain H and excrete HCO3
Untreated acidosis leads to an increase in which electrolyte? - ANSWER: Potassium
West Nile Virus - ANSWER: Transmitted through the bite of an infected mosquito. Severe
signs and symptoms; high fever, headache and stiff neck
Lyme disease - ANSWER: Tick-borne disease caused by the spirochete Borrelia burgdorferi.
Erythema infectiosum - ANSWER: a febrile upper respiratory illness in a child followed by
the sudden appearance of red, flushed cheeks, "fifth disease"
Obesity ad diabetes are risk factors for having a child with . - ANSWER: Spina bifida
Trousseau's sign - ANSWER: arm/carpal spasm associated with hypocalcemia
1
,Cause and sign of spina bifida - ANSWER: results from failure of neural tube to close. sign -
fluid filled sac on lower back.
hemophilia is more common in - ANSWER: males
Prenatal exposure to alcohol includes - ANSWER: ND-PAE, decreased brain function, FAS
Connective vs muscle tissue disorders - ANSWER: Connective- RA, Scleroderma, Lupus
Muscle - MS, Muscular dystrophy, Myasthenia Gravia
Describe Lupus - ANSWER: Inflammatory disorder characterized by joint pain and butterfly
rash
Describe Myasthenia Gravis - ANSWER: It is an autoimmune disorder where antibodies
attack own Ach receptors. This causes weakness of skeletal muscles over the course of the
day, along with ptosis, double vision, and difficulty swallowing.
dermatitis - ANSWER: inflammation of the skin
eczema - ANSWER: noninfectious, inflammatory skin disease characterized by redness,
blisters, scabs, and itching
decubitus ulcer - ANSWER: sore caused by lying down for long periods of time
Fungal infections - ANSWER: superficial, localized skin conditions or deep tissue infections
caused by exposure to spores
may or may not be transmitted
benign neoplasm - ANSWER: noncancerous growths, stationary, distinct borders
malignant neoplasm - ANSWER: uncontrolled new tissue growth, irregular borders, spreads
Osteoporosis - ANSWER: The loss of bone mass often due to age, causing the bones to
become porous, brittle, and easily fractured.
osteomalacia - ANSWER: disease marked by softening of the bone caused by calcium and
vitamin D deficiency
myoglobin - ANSWER: red pigment that stores oxygen in muscle cells
2
,Bursa - ANSWER: fluid-filled sac that allows for easy movement of one part of a joint over
another
Rickets - ANSWER: a vitamin D deficiency in children, resulting in soft bones
Degenerative disk disease - ANSWER: A condition in which an intervertebral disk loses its
normal structural integrity as a result of wear and tear, acute or repeated injuries or aging
Paget disease - ANSWER: Chronic inflammation of bones, resulting in thickening and
softening of bones, that can occur in any bone but most commonly affects the long bones of
the legs, the lower spine, the pelvis, and the skull
communiuted fracture - ANSWER: splintered into many pieces
Three types of skin cancer - ANSWER: 1. Basal cell carcinoma
2. Squamous cell carcinoma
3. Melanoma
basal cell carcinoma - ANSWER: Most common and least severe type of skin cancer; often
characterized by light or pearly nodules. Rarely metastasize, most common on face due to sun
exposure
squamous cell carcinoma - ANSWER: Type of skin cancer more serious than basal cell
carcinoma; often characterized by scaly red crusted papules or firm nodules.
Melanoma - ANSWER: The most serious form of skin cancer, caucasian males at highest
risk, usually black or brown lesion
consequences when integumentary system is disrupted - ANSWER: impaired immunity
types of burns - ANSWER: Superficial (1st degree) - red/painful
Partial-thickness (2nd degree) -wet/pink/painful
Full-thickness (3rd degree) -white/swollen/no pain
Viltigo - ANSWER: localized loss of skin pigmentation characterized by milk-white patches
ischemic CVA vs hemorrhagic CVA - ANSWER: ischemic - clot vs hemorrhagic - blood
subdural hematoma - ANSWER: collection of blood under the dura mater
3
, Alzheimer's disease vs parkinson's disease - ANSWER: Alz - affects language and memory
Park - affects all executive functioning
Huntington's disease - ANSWER: Genetic disorder that causes progressive deterioration of
brain cells. caused by a dominant allele. symptoms do not appear until about the age of 30.
involves involuntary muscle movement
Sclerosis - ANSWER: abnormal condition of hardening
disorders that cause vision loss - ANSWER: glaucoma - loss of pheripheral vision, cataracts
- cloudy vision, retinal detachment - floaters, flashes, curtain vision
kyphosis - ANSWER: excessive outward curvature of the spine, causing hunching of the
back.
disorders that cause hearing loss - ANSWER: Meniere's disease - changes in fluid in tube of
inner ear (imbalance and vertigo), Otitis media - middle ear infection
Predisposing factors of ischemic stroke - ANSWER: a fib, carotid stenosis, cerebral
arteriosclerosis
rheumatoid arthritis - ANSWER: A chronic systemic disease characterized by inflammation
of the joints, stiffness, pain, and swelling that results in crippling deformities. Causes
elevated WBC counts.
cerebral contusion - ANSWER: the bruising of brain tissue as the result of a head injury that
causes the brain to bounce against the rigid bone of the skull; symptoms: ringing in ears,
severe headache, n/v.
TIA vs CVA - ANSWER: TIA =
-result when a cerebral artery is temp blocked and decreases blood flow to brain
Stroke= artery completely blocked
leading to death of brain and permanent loss of certain functions
multiple sclerosis - ANSWER: A chronic, irreversible disease of the central nervous system
marked by damage to the myelin sheath. Plaques occur in the brain and spinal cord causing
tremor, weakness, incoordination, paresthesia, and disturbances in vision and speech
aneurysm - ANSWER: ballooning of a weakened portion of an arterial wall
thrombus vs embolus - ANSWER: Thrombus = clot in arteries
4
ASSESSMENT | QUESTIONS WITH ANSWERS
2025/2026
Describe how your body responds to an infection. - ANSWER: T cells produce cytokines,
which stimulate B cells. B cells produce antibodies.
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.
DKA - ANSWER: increased anion gap, decreased HCO3
How do kidneys compensate for alkalosis - ANSWER: retain H and excrete HCO3
Untreated acidosis leads to an increase in which electrolyte? - ANSWER: Potassium
West Nile Virus - ANSWER: Transmitted through the bite of an infected mosquito. Severe
signs and symptoms; high fever, headache and stiff neck
Lyme disease - ANSWER: Tick-borne disease caused by the spirochete Borrelia burgdorferi.
Erythema infectiosum - ANSWER: a febrile upper respiratory illness in a child followed by
the sudden appearance of red, flushed cheeks, "fifth disease"
Obesity ad diabetes are risk factors for having a child with . - ANSWER: Spina bifida
Trousseau's sign - ANSWER: arm/carpal spasm associated with hypocalcemia
1
,Cause and sign of spina bifida - ANSWER: results from failure of neural tube to close. sign -
fluid filled sac on lower back.
hemophilia is more common in - ANSWER: males
Prenatal exposure to alcohol includes - ANSWER: ND-PAE, decreased brain function, FAS
Connective vs muscle tissue disorders - ANSWER: Connective- RA, Scleroderma, Lupus
Muscle - MS, Muscular dystrophy, Myasthenia Gravia
Describe Lupus - ANSWER: Inflammatory disorder characterized by joint pain and butterfly
rash
Describe Myasthenia Gravis - ANSWER: It is an autoimmune disorder where antibodies
attack own Ach receptors. This causes weakness of skeletal muscles over the course of the
day, along with ptosis, double vision, and difficulty swallowing.
dermatitis - ANSWER: inflammation of the skin
eczema - ANSWER: noninfectious, inflammatory skin disease characterized by redness,
blisters, scabs, and itching
decubitus ulcer - ANSWER: sore caused by lying down for long periods of time
Fungal infections - ANSWER: superficial, localized skin conditions or deep tissue infections
caused by exposure to spores
may or may not be transmitted
benign neoplasm - ANSWER: noncancerous growths, stationary, distinct borders
malignant neoplasm - ANSWER: uncontrolled new tissue growth, irregular borders, spreads
Osteoporosis - ANSWER: The loss of bone mass often due to age, causing the bones to
become porous, brittle, and easily fractured.
osteomalacia - ANSWER: disease marked by softening of the bone caused by calcium and
vitamin D deficiency
myoglobin - ANSWER: red pigment that stores oxygen in muscle cells
2
,Bursa - ANSWER: fluid-filled sac that allows for easy movement of one part of a joint over
another
Rickets - ANSWER: a vitamin D deficiency in children, resulting in soft bones
Degenerative disk disease - ANSWER: A condition in which an intervertebral disk loses its
normal structural integrity as a result of wear and tear, acute or repeated injuries or aging
Paget disease - ANSWER: Chronic inflammation of bones, resulting in thickening and
softening of bones, that can occur in any bone but most commonly affects the long bones of
the legs, the lower spine, the pelvis, and the skull
communiuted fracture - ANSWER: splintered into many pieces
Three types of skin cancer - ANSWER: 1. Basal cell carcinoma
2. Squamous cell carcinoma
3. Melanoma
basal cell carcinoma - ANSWER: Most common and least severe type of skin cancer; often
characterized by light or pearly nodules. Rarely metastasize, most common on face due to sun
exposure
squamous cell carcinoma - ANSWER: Type of skin cancer more serious than basal cell
carcinoma; often characterized by scaly red crusted papules or firm nodules.
Melanoma - ANSWER: The most serious form of skin cancer, caucasian males at highest
risk, usually black or brown lesion
consequences when integumentary system is disrupted - ANSWER: impaired immunity
types of burns - ANSWER: Superficial (1st degree) - red/painful
Partial-thickness (2nd degree) -wet/pink/painful
Full-thickness (3rd degree) -white/swollen/no pain
Viltigo - ANSWER: localized loss of skin pigmentation characterized by milk-white patches
ischemic CVA vs hemorrhagic CVA - ANSWER: ischemic - clot vs hemorrhagic - blood
subdural hematoma - ANSWER: collection of blood under the dura mater
3
, Alzheimer's disease vs parkinson's disease - ANSWER: Alz - affects language and memory
Park - affects all executive functioning
Huntington's disease - ANSWER: Genetic disorder that causes progressive deterioration of
brain cells. caused by a dominant allele. symptoms do not appear until about the age of 30.
involves involuntary muscle movement
Sclerosis - ANSWER: abnormal condition of hardening
disorders that cause vision loss - ANSWER: glaucoma - loss of pheripheral vision, cataracts
- cloudy vision, retinal detachment - floaters, flashes, curtain vision
kyphosis - ANSWER: excessive outward curvature of the spine, causing hunching of the
back.
disorders that cause hearing loss - ANSWER: Meniere's disease - changes in fluid in tube of
inner ear (imbalance and vertigo), Otitis media - middle ear infection
Predisposing factors of ischemic stroke - ANSWER: a fib, carotid stenosis, cerebral
arteriosclerosis
rheumatoid arthritis - ANSWER: A chronic systemic disease characterized by inflammation
of the joints, stiffness, pain, and swelling that results in crippling deformities. Causes
elevated WBC counts.
cerebral contusion - ANSWER: the bruising of brain tissue as the result of a head injury that
causes the brain to bounce against the rigid bone of the skull; symptoms: ringing in ears,
severe headache, n/v.
TIA vs CVA - ANSWER: TIA =
-result when a cerebral artery is temp blocked and decreases blood flow to brain
Stroke= artery completely blocked
leading to death of brain and permanent loss of certain functions
multiple sclerosis - ANSWER: A chronic, irreversible disease of the central nervous system
marked by damage to the myelin sheath. Plaques occur in the brain and spinal cord causing
tremor, weakness, incoordination, paresthesia, and disturbances in vision and speech
aneurysm - ANSWER: ballooning of a weakened portion of an arterial wall
thrombus vs embolus - ANSWER: Thrombus = clot in arteries
4
