WGU D115 Advanced Pathophysiology OA Exam 2025/2026 –
Complete Exam Questions and Answers
Questions 1–200
Unit 1: Cellular Adaptation, Injury, and Death
1. A client with longstanding hypertension develops left ventricular
hypertrophy. Which cellular adaptation best explains this change?
A) Hyperplasia
B) Metaplasia
C) Hypertrophy
D) Dysplasia
Answer C: Hypertrophy
,Rationale: Hypertrophy is an increase in cell size due to increased
workload, as seen in the left ventricle responding to chronic pressure
overload.
2. A client who smokes develops squamous metaplasia in the
bronchial epithelium. Which statement best describes this adaptive
change?
A) Increase in the number of cells
B) Replacement of one differentiated cell type with another
C) Increase in cell size
D) Disorganized cellular growth
Answer B: Replacement of one differentiated cell type with another
Rationale: Metaplasia is the reversible replacement of one
differentiated cell type with another, often in response to chronic
irritation.
3. A client with chronic iron deficiency anemia develops brittle,
spoon-shaped nails. This change in nail shape is known as:
A) Clubbing
,B) Koilonychia
C) Onycholysis
D) Paronychia
Answer B: Koilonychia
Rationale: Koilonychia (spoon nails) is associated with chronic iron
deficiency anemia.
4. Which cellular adaptation involves a decrease in cell size and
function due to reduced workload or nutrition?
A) Atrophy
B) Hypertrophy
C) Hyperplasia
D) Metaplasia
Answer A: Atrophy
Rationale: Atrophy is a decrease in cell size and function, often due
to disuse, denervation, or inadequate nutrition.
5. A client with benign prostatic hyperplasia (BPH) has an enlarged
prostate. Which cellular process is responsible?
, A) Hypertrophy
B) Hyperplasia
C) Metaplasia
D) Dysplasia
Answer B: Hyperplasia
Rationale: Hyperplasia is an increase in the number of cells, as seen
in BPH.
6. Barrett's esophagus is an example of which type of cellular
adaptation?
A) Hyperplasia
B) Metaplasia
C) Dysplasia
D) Hypertrophy
Answer B: Metaplasia
Rationale: Barrett's esophagus involves replacement of squamous
epithelium with columnar epithelium in response to chronic acid
reflux.
Complete Exam Questions and Answers
Questions 1–200
Unit 1: Cellular Adaptation, Injury, and Death
1. A client with longstanding hypertension develops left ventricular
hypertrophy. Which cellular adaptation best explains this change?
A) Hyperplasia
B) Metaplasia
C) Hypertrophy
D) Dysplasia
Answer C: Hypertrophy
,Rationale: Hypertrophy is an increase in cell size due to increased
workload, as seen in the left ventricle responding to chronic pressure
overload.
2. A client who smokes develops squamous metaplasia in the
bronchial epithelium. Which statement best describes this adaptive
change?
A) Increase in the number of cells
B) Replacement of one differentiated cell type with another
C) Increase in cell size
D) Disorganized cellular growth
Answer B: Replacement of one differentiated cell type with another
Rationale: Metaplasia is the reversible replacement of one
differentiated cell type with another, often in response to chronic
irritation.
3. A client with chronic iron deficiency anemia develops brittle,
spoon-shaped nails. This change in nail shape is known as:
A) Clubbing
,B) Koilonychia
C) Onycholysis
D) Paronychia
Answer B: Koilonychia
Rationale: Koilonychia (spoon nails) is associated with chronic iron
deficiency anemia.
4. Which cellular adaptation involves a decrease in cell size and
function due to reduced workload or nutrition?
A) Atrophy
B) Hypertrophy
C) Hyperplasia
D) Metaplasia
Answer A: Atrophy
Rationale: Atrophy is a decrease in cell size and function, often due
to disuse, denervation, or inadequate nutrition.
5. A client with benign prostatic hyperplasia (BPH) has an enlarged
prostate. Which cellular process is responsible?
, A) Hypertrophy
B) Hyperplasia
C) Metaplasia
D) Dysplasia
Answer B: Hyperplasia
Rationale: Hyperplasia is an increase in the number of cells, as seen
in BPH.
6. Barrett's esophagus is an example of which type of cellular
adaptation?
A) Hyperplasia
B) Metaplasia
C) Dysplasia
D) Hypertrophy
Answer B: Metaplasia
Rationale: Barrett's esophagus involves replacement of squamous
epithelium with columnar epithelium in response to chronic acid
reflux.
