WGU D236 EXAMS LATEST 2027 PACKAGE DEAL|
DIFFERENT VERSIONS WITH COMPLETE ACTUAL EXAM
QUESTIONS AND CORRECT DETAILED ANSWERS
(VERIFIED ANSWERS) ALREADY GRADED A | WGU
ADVANCED PATHOPHYSIOLOGY EXAM PREP (BRAND
NEW!!)
Q1. A patient with chronic renal failure is most likely to
experience which type of acid-base imbalance?
A) Respiratory Acidosis
B) Metabolic Alkalosis
C) Metabolic Acidosis
D) Respiratory Alkalosis
Answer: C) Metabolic Acidosis
Rationale: In chronic renal failure, the kidneys cannot excrete
1
,hydrogen ions (H⁺) or regenerate bicarbonate (HCO₃⁻), leading
to a buildup of acid and causing metabolic acidosis .
Q2. Which cellular adaptation is most likely in cardiac muscle
subjected to chronic hypertension?
A) Atrophy
B) Hypertrophy
C) Dysplasia
D) Metaplasia
Answer: B) Hypertrophy
Rationale: Hypertrophy is an increase in individual cell size.
Cardiac muscle cells cannot divide (hyperplasia) to meet
increased workload demands, so they enlarge to compensate for
the chronic pressure overload of hypertension .
Q3. What is the primary determinant of oncotic (colloid
osmotic) pressure?
A) Sodium
2
,B) Albumin
C) Glucose
D) Potassium
Answer: B) Albumin
Rationale: Albumin is the most abundant plasma protein and is
primarily responsible for maintaining oncotic pressure, which pulls
fluid back into the capillaries from the interstitial space .
Q4. How does the Renin-Angiotensin-Aldosterone System
(RAAS) increase blood pressure?
A) By decreasing heart rate
B) By causing vasoconstriction and increasing blood volume
C) By promoting diuresis
D) By decreasing peripheral resistance
Answer: B) By causing vasoconstriction and increasing blood
volume
Rationale: When the kidneys sense low perfusion, they release
3
, renin, initiating a cascade that produces angiotensin II (a potent
vasoconstrictor) and aldosterone (which promotes sodium and
water retention), increasing both systemic vascular resistance and
blood volume .
Q5. Why is a patient with hyperkalemia at risk for cardiac
arrest?
A) It causes excessive calcium excretion
B) It alters the resting membrane potential of cardiac cells
C) It blocks the sodium channels in the brain
D) It causes severe metabolic alkalosis
Answer: B) It alters the resting membrane potential of cardiac
cells
Rationale: Hyperkalemia (high potassium) disrupts the normal
electrical gradient across cardiac cell membranes. This can lead
to peaked T waves, widened QRS complexes, and eventually
ventricular fibrillation or asystole .
4
DIFFERENT VERSIONS WITH COMPLETE ACTUAL EXAM
QUESTIONS AND CORRECT DETAILED ANSWERS
(VERIFIED ANSWERS) ALREADY GRADED A | WGU
ADVANCED PATHOPHYSIOLOGY EXAM PREP (BRAND
NEW!!)
Q1. A patient with chronic renal failure is most likely to
experience which type of acid-base imbalance?
A) Respiratory Acidosis
B) Metabolic Alkalosis
C) Metabolic Acidosis
D) Respiratory Alkalosis
Answer: C) Metabolic Acidosis
Rationale: In chronic renal failure, the kidneys cannot excrete
1
,hydrogen ions (H⁺) or regenerate bicarbonate (HCO₃⁻), leading
to a buildup of acid and causing metabolic acidosis .
Q2. Which cellular adaptation is most likely in cardiac muscle
subjected to chronic hypertension?
A) Atrophy
B) Hypertrophy
C) Dysplasia
D) Metaplasia
Answer: B) Hypertrophy
Rationale: Hypertrophy is an increase in individual cell size.
Cardiac muscle cells cannot divide (hyperplasia) to meet
increased workload demands, so they enlarge to compensate for
the chronic pressure overload of hypertension .
Q3. What is the primary determinant of oncotic (colloid
osmotic) pressure?
A) Sodium
2
,B) Albumin
C) Glucose
D) Potassium
Answer: B) Albumin
Rationale: Albumin is the most abundant plasma protein and is
primarily responsible for maintaining oncotic pressure, which pulls
fluid back into the capillaries from the interstitial space .
Q4. How does the Renin-Angiotensin-Aldosterone System
(RAAS) increase blood pressure?
A) By decreasing heart rate
B) By causing vasoconstriction and increasing blood volume
C) By promoting diuresis
D) By decreasing peripheral resistance
Answer: B) By causing vasoconstriction and increasing blood
volume
Rationale: When the kidneys sense low perfusion, they release
3
, renin, initiating a cascade that produces angiotensin II (a potent
vasoconstrictor) and aldosterone (which promotes sodium and
water retention), increasing both systemic vascular resistance and
blood volume .
Q5. Why is a patient with hyperkalemia at risk for cardiac
arrest?
A) It causes excessive calcium excretion
B) It alters the resting membrane potential of cardiac cells
C) It blocks the sodium channels in the brain
D) It causes severe metabolic alkalosis
Answer: B) It alters the resting membrane potential of cardiac
cells
Rationale: Hyperkalemia (high potassium) disrupts the normal
electrical gradient across cardiac cell membranes. This can lead
to peaked T waves, widened QRS complexes, and eventually
ventricular fibrillation or asystole .
4
