WGU D115 OA Advanced Pathophysiology
Question and Answer | Grade A+ | 2026/2027
Latest Study Guide
• What is a mutation? -✓✓A permanent change in the DNA sequence that may alter
protein structure or function.
• What is a polymorphism? -✓✓A common genetic variation that usually does not cause
disease but may affect disease risk or drug response.
• What is gene expression? -✓✓The process by which genetic information is used to
synthesize proteins.
• What is epigenetics? -✓✓Changes in gene expression that do not involve alterations in
the DNA sequence (e.g., methylation, histone modification).
• How can lifestyle influence gene expression? -✓✓Diet, stress, smoking, toxins, and
exercise can activate or suppress gene expression through epigenetic mechanisms.
• What is autosomal dominant inheritance? -✓✓Only one copy of an abnormal gene is
needed to express the disease.
• What is autosomal recessive inheritance? -✓✓Two copies of an abnormal gene are
required to express the disease.
• What is X-linked inheritance? -✓✓A genetic condition linked to genes on the X
chromosome, often affecting males more severely.
• What is penetrance? -✓✓The proportion of individuals with a genetic mutation who
actually express the disease.
• What is expressivity? -✓✓The degree to which a genetic condition is expressed
among individuals.
• Cellular adaptation -✓✓A reversible change in cell structure or function in response to
stress.
• Atrophy -✓✓A decrease in cell size due to decreased workload, nutrition, or blood
supply.
• Hypertrophy -✓✓An increase in cell size, commonly due to increased workload.
,• Hyperplasia -✓✓An increase in the number of cells in response to stimulation.
• Metaplasia -✓✓Reversible replacement of one mature cell type with another less
specialized cell type.
• Dysplasia -✓✓Abnormal cell growth with disordered structure, often precancerous.
• Apoptosis -✓✓Programmed cell death that occurs in a controlled, non-inflammatory
manner.
• Necrosis -✓✓Uncontrolled cell death resulting in inflammation and tissue damage.
• What is immunity? -✓✓The body's ability to resist and eliminate pathogens.
• What is innate immunity? -✓✓Nonspecific, immediate defense mechanisms present at
birth.
• What is adaptive immunity? -✓✓Specific, learned immune responses involving
memory.
• What are macrophages? -✓✓Phagocytic cells that ingest pathogens and present
antigens to lymphocytes.
• What are neutrophils? -✓✓First responders in acute inflammation that phagocytose
bacteria.
• What are lymphocytes? -✓✓White blood cells responsible for adaptive immunity (T
cells and B cells).
• What is an antigen? -✓✓A substance that triggers an immune response.
• What is an antibody? -✓✓A protein produced by B cells that binds to a specific
antigen.
• What is IgG? -✓✓The most abundant antibody; provides long-term immunity and
crosses the placenta.
• What is IgA? -✓✓Found in mucosal secretions such as saliva, breast milk, and tears.
• What is IgM? -✓✓The first antibody produced during an initial immune response.
• What is IgE? -✓✓Associated with allergic reactions and parasitic infections.
, • What is inflammation? -✓✓A protective response to injury or infection involving
vascular and cellular changes.
• What are the five cardinal signs of inflammation? -✓✓Redness, heat, swelling, pain,
and loss of function.
• What is acute inflammation? -✓✓Rapid onset inflammation characterized by
neutrophils.
• What is chronic inflammation? -✓✓Long-term inflammation involving macrophages
and lymphocytes.
• What is Type I hypersensitivity? -✓✓Immediate allergic reaction mediated by IgE (e.g.,
anaphylaxis).
• What is Type II hypersensitivity? -✓✓Antibody-mediated cell destruction (e.g.,
hemolytic anemia).
• What is Type III hypersensitivity? -✓✓Immune complex deposition causing tissue
damage (e.g., lupus).
• What is Type IV hypersensitivity? -✓✓Delayed, T-cell-mediated response (e.g.,
contact dermatitis).
• What is autoimmunity? -✓✓An immune response against the body's own tissues.
• What causes autoimmune disease? -✓✓Genetic susceptibility combined with
environmental triggers.
• What is immunodeficiency? -✓✓A condition where immune responses are inadequate.
• What is primary immunodeficiency? -✓✓Inherited defects of the immune system.
• What is secondary immunodeficiency? -✓✓Acquired immune dysfunction (e.g., HIV,
chemotherapy).
• How does smoking affect health at the cellular level? -✓✓Causes oxidative stress,
inflammation, and DNA damage.
• How does obesity contribute to disease? -✓✓Promotes chronic inflammation, insulin
resistance, and cardiovascular disease.
• How does chronic stress affect immunity? -✓✓Suppresses immune function through
prolonged cortisol release.
Question and Answer | Grade A+ | 2026/2027
Latest Study Guide
• What is a mutation? -✓✓A permanent change in the DNA sequence that may alter
protein structure or function.
• What is a polymorphism? -✓✓A common genetic variation that usually does not cause
disease but may affect disease risk or drug response.
• What is gene expression? -✓✓The process by which genetic information is used to
synthesize proteins.
• What is epigenetics? -✓✓Changes in gene expression that do not involve alterations in
the DNA sequence (e.g., methylation, histone modification).
• How can lifestyle influence gene expression? -✓✓Diet, stress, smoking, toxins, and
exercise can activate or suppress gene expression through epigenetic mechanisms.
• What is autosomal dominant inheritance? -✓✓Only one copy of an abnormal gene is
needed to express the disease.
• What is autosomal recessive inheritance? -✓✓Two copies of an abnormal gene are
required to express the disease.
• What is X-linked inheritance? -✓✓A genetic condition linked to genes on the X
chromosome, often affecting males more severely.
• What is penetrance? -✓✓The proportion of individuals with a genetic mutation who
actually express the disease.
• What is expressivity? -✓✓The degree to which a genetic condition is expressed
among individuals.
• Cellular adaptation -✓✓A reversible change in cell structure or function in response to
stress.
• Atrophy -✓✓A decrease in cell size due to decreased workload, nutrition, or blood
supply.
• Hypertrophy -✓✓An increase in cell size, commonly due to increased workload.
,• Hyperplasia -✓✓An increase in the number of cells in response to stimulation.
• Metaplasia -✓✓Reversible replacement of one mature cell type with another less
specialized cell type.
• Dysplasia -✓✓Abnormal cell growth with disordered structure, often precancerous.
• Apoptosis -✓✓Programmed cell death that occurs in a controlled, non-inflammatory
manner.
• Necrosis -✓✓Uncontrolled cell death resulting in inflammation and tissue damage.
• What is immunity? -✓✓The body's ability to resist and eliminate pathogens.
• What is innate immunity? -✓✓Nonspecific, immediate defense mechanisms present at
birth.
• What is adaptive immunity? -✓✓Specific, learned immune responses involving
memory.
• What are macrophages? -✓✓Phagocytic cells that ingest pathogens and present
antigens to lymphocytes.
• What are neutrophils? -✓✓First responders in acute inflammation that phagocytose
bacteria.
• What are lymphocytes? -✓✓White blood cells responsible for adaptive immunity (T
cells and B cells).
• What is an antigen? -✓✓A substance that triggers an immune response.
• What is an antibody? -✓✓A protein produced by B cells that binds to a specific
antigen.
• What is IgG? -✓✓The most abundant antibody; provides long-term immunity and
crosses the placenta.
• What is IgA? -✓✓Found in mucosal secretions such as saliva, breast milk, and tears.
• What is IgM? -✓✓The first antibody produced during an initial immune response.
• What is IgE? -✓✓Associated with allergic reactions and parasitic infections.
, • What is inflammation? -✓✓A protective response to injury or infection involving
vascular and cellular changes.
• What are the five cardinal signs of inflammation? -✓✓Redness, heat, swelling, pain,
and loss of function.
• What is acute inflammation? -✓✓Rapid onset inflammation characterized by
neutrophils.
• What is chronic inflammation? -✓✓Long-term inflammation involving macrophages
and lymphocytes.
• What is Type I hypersensitivity? -✓✓Immediate allergic reaction mediated by IgE (e.g.,
anaphylaxis).
• What is Type II hypersensitivity? -✓✓Antibody-mediated cell destruction (e.g.,
hemolytic anemia).
• What is Type III hypersensitivity? -✓✓Immune complex deposition causing tissue
damage (e.g., lupus).
• What is Type IV hypersensitivity? -✓✓Delayed, T-cell-mediated response (e.g.,
contact dermatitis).
• What is autoimmunity? -✓✓An immune response against the body's own tissues.
• What causes autoimmune disease? -✓✓Genetic susceptibility combined with
environmental triggers.
• What is immunodeficiency? -✓✓A condition where immune responses are inadequate.
• What is primary immunodeficiency? -✓✓Inherited defects of the immune system.
• What is secondary immunodeficiency? -✓✓Acquired immune dysfunction (e.g., HIV,
chemotherapy).
• How does smoking affect health at the cellular level? -✓✓Causes oxidative stress,
inflammation, and DNA damage.
• How does obesity contribute to disease? -✓✓Promotes chronic inflammation, insulin
resistance, and cardiovascular disease.
• How does chronic stress affect immunity? -✓✓Suppresses immune function through
prolonged cortisol release.
