WGU D115 Advanced Pathophysiology OA Exam Prep
(2025/2027) – Actual Questions, Detailed Rationales &
Readiness Practice Test
Master your WGU D115 Objective Assessment on the first try with this comprehensive,
high-yield study guide updated for the latest 2025/2026 test bank. Inside, you will find
authentic practice exam questions covering critical reproductive, neurological, and
genetic systems alongside detailed clinical rationales that mirror the actual OA. Stop
wasting time guessing what to study and download this proven resource to secure your
pass today.
Question 1
Which cellular adaptation is most likely to occur in the left ventricle due to chronic
hypertension?
A) Hyperplasia
B) Hypertrophy
C) Atrophy
D) Metaplasia
Answer: B) Hypertrophy
Rationale: Hypertrophy is the increase in cell size seen in cardiac muscle as it works harder
against high afterload from hypertension. Cardiac myocytes cannot significantly divide, so
the heart compensates by increasing cell size rather than cell number .
Question 2
,Which of the following lab findings indicates metabolic acidosis?
A) pH 7.48, HCO3 30 mEq/L
B) pH 7.32, HCO3 18 mEq/L
C) pH 7.45, PaCO2 30 mm Hg
D) pH 7.36, PaCO2 50 mm Hg
Answer: B) pH 7.32, HCO3 18 mEq/L
Rationale: Metabolic acidosis is characterized by a low pH (<7.35) and low bicarbonate
(<22 mEq/L). Option A shows metabolic alkalosis, option C suggests respiratory alkalosis,
and option D indicates respiratory acidosis .
Question 3
A patient with severe vomiting is most likely to develop which acid-base imbalance?
A) Metabolic acidosis
B) Respiratory acidosis
C) Metabolic alkalosis
D) Respiratory alkalosis
Answer: C) Metabolic alkalosis
Rationale: Vomiting causes loss of gastric hydrochloric acid, increasing serum bicarbonate
levels. This leads to metabolic alkalosis .
Question 4
,Which ECG finding is commonly associated with hyperkalemia?
A) U waves
B) Peaked T waves
C) Prolonged QT interval
D) ST elevation
Answer: B) Peaked T waves
Rationale: Hyperkalemia alters cardiac conduction and commonly produces tall, peaked
("tented") T waves. This is the earliest and most characteristic ECG change seen in
hyperkalemia .
Question 5
Which disorder is inherited in an autosomal recessive pattern?
A) Huntington disease
B) Marfan syndrome
C) Cystic fibrosis
D) Neurofibromatosis
Answer: C) Cystic fibrosis
Rationale: Cystic fibrosis requires inheritance of two defective CFTR genes, making it
autosomal recessive. Huntington disease and neurofibromatosis are autosomal dominant,
while Marfan syndrome follows autosomal dominant inheritance .
Question 6
, A male patient develops hemophilia A. Which inheritance pattern is most likely?
A) Autosomal dominant
B) Autosomal recessive
C) X-linked recessive
D) Mitochondrial
Answer: C) X-linked recessive
Rationale: Hemophilia A is an X-linked recessive disorder that commonly affects males
because they possess only one X chromosome. Since males have only one X and one Y, if
the affected chromosome has the illness, it will be expressed .
Question 7
Which type of genetic disease affects males more frequently than females?
A) Autosomal dominant
B) Autosomal recessive
C) Sex-linked recessive
D) Mitochondrial
Answer: C) Sex-linked recessive
Rationale: Sex-linked recessive disorders affect males more frequently because males have
only one X chromosome. If the X chromosome carries the mutation, the condition will be
expressed since there is no second X to compensate .
Question 8
(2025/2027) – Actual Questions, Detailed Rationales &
Readiness Practice Test
Master your WGU D115 Objective Assessment on the first try with this comprehensive,
high-yield study guide updated for the latest 2025/2026 test bank. Inside, you will find
authentic practice exam questions covering critical reproductive, neurological, and
genetic systems alongside detailed clinical rationales that mirror the actual OA. Stop
wasting time guessing what to study and download this proven resource to secure your
pass today.
Question 1
Which cellular adaptation is most likely to occur in the left ventricle due to chronic
hypertension?
A) Hyperplasia
B) Hypertrophy
C) Atrophy
D) Metaplasia
Answer: B) Hypertrophy
Rationale: Hypertrophy is the increase in cell size seen in cardiac muscle as it works harder
against high afterload from hypertension. Cardiac myocytes cannot significantly divide, so
the heart compensates by increasing cell size rather than cell number .
Question 2
,Which of the following lab findings indicates metabolic acidosis?
A) pH 7.48, HCO3 30 mEq/L
B) pH 7.32, HCO3 18 mEq/L
C) pH 7.45, PaCO2 30 mm Hg
D) pH 7.36, PaCO2 50 mm Hg
Answer: B) pH 7.32, HCO3 18 mEq/L
Rationale: Metabolic acidosis is characterized by a low pH (<7.35) and low bicarbonate
(<22 mEq/L). Option A shows metabolic alkalosis, option C suggests respiratory alkalosis,
and option D indicates respiratory acidosis .
Question 3
A patient with severe vomiting is most likely to develop which acid-base imbalance?
A) Metabolic acidosis
B) Respiratory acidosis
C) Metabolic alkalosis
D) Respiratory alkalosis
Answer: C) Metabolic alkalosis
Rationale: Vomiting causes loss of gastric hydrochloric acid, increasing serum bicarbonate
levels. This leads to metabolic alkalosis .
Question 4
,Which ECG finding is commonly associated with hyperkalemia?
A) U waves
B) Peaked T waves
C) Prolonged QT interval
D) ST elevation
Answer: B) Peaked T waves
Rationale: Hyperkalemia alters cardiac conduction and commonly produces tall, peaked
("tented") T waves. This is the earliest and most characteristic ECG change seen in
hyperkalemia .
Question 5
Which disorder is inherited in an autosomal recessive pattern?
A) Huntington disease
B) Marfan syndrome
C) Cystic fibrosis
D) Neurofibromatosis
Answer: C) Cystic fibrosis
Rationale: Cystic fibrosis requires inheritance of two defective CFTR genes, making it
autosomal recessive. Huntington disease and neurofibromatosis are autosomal dominant,
while Marfan syndrome follows autosomal dominant inheritance .
Question 6
, A male patient develops hemophilia A. Which inheritance pattern is most likely?
A) Autosomal dominant
B) Autosomal recessive
C) X-linked recessive
D) Mitochondrial
Answer: C) X-linked recessive
Rationale: Hemophilia A is an X-linked recessive disorder that commonly affects males
because they possess only one X chromosome. Since males have only one X and one Y, if
the affected chromosome has the illness, it will be expressed .
Question 7
Which type of genetic disease affects males more frequently than females?
A) Autosomal dominant
B) Autosomal recessive
C) Sex-linked recessive
D) Mitochondrial
Answer: C) Sex-linked recessive
Rationale: Sex-linked recessive disorders affect males more frequently because males have
only one X chromosome. If the X chromosome carries the mutation, the condition will be
expressed since there is no second X to compensate .
Question 8
