D236 Pathophysiology Week 8 Practice Exam 2026 |WGU
1. Which of the following is the primary pathophysiological mechanism
underlying Type 1 Diabetes Mellitus?
A. Autoimmune destruction of pancreatic beta cells
B. Insulin resistance in peripheral tissues
C. Hypersecretion of glucagon by alpha cells
D. Excessive dietary glucose intake
Answer: A
Rationale: Type 1 Diabetes Mellitus is primarily an autoimmune disease where the body’s
immune system attacks and destroys the insulin-producing beta cells in the islets of
Langerhans.
2. Which electrolyte abnormality is a hallmark of Syndrome of Inappropriate
Antidiuretic Hormone (SIADH)?
A. Hyponatremia
B. Hypernatremia
C. Hyperkalemia
D. Hypocalcemia
Answer: A
Rationale: SIADH leads to excessive water retention, which dilutes the blood, resulting in
dilutional hyponatremia.
,3. In Parkinson’s disease, the depletion of which neurotransmitter in the
substantia nigra leads to motor symptoms?
A. Acetylcholine
B. Serotonin
C. GABA
D. Dopamine
Answer: D
Rationale: Parkinson’s disease is characterized by the loss of dopaminergic neurons in the
substantia nigra pars compacta, leading to a deficiency of dopamine.
4. What is the characteristic pathological finding in the joints of a patient with
Rheumatoid Arthritis?
A. Degeneration of articular cartilage due to wear and tear
B. Urate crystal deposition
C. Pannus formation and synovial membrane inflammation
D. Heberden’s nodes
Answer: C
Rationale: Rheumatoid arthritis involves chronic inflammation of the synovium, leading to
the formation of pannus, which is granulated tissue that erodes cartilage and bone.
5. Which condition is characterized by a ‘moon face,’ ‘buffalo hump,’ and central
obesity due to excess glucocorticoids?
A. Addison’s Disease
B. Hashimoto’s Thyroiditis
C. Cushing’s Syndrome
D. Pheochromocytoma
Answer: C
Rationale: Cushing’s syndrome results from chronic exposure to excess cortisol, leading to
characteristic fat redistribution.
, 6. Which of the following describes the pathophysiology of Multiple Sclerosis
(MS)?
A. Degeneration of the myelin sheath in the peripheral nervous system
B. Destruction of lower motor neurons in the spinal cord
C. Loss of acetylcholine receptors at the neuromuscular junction
D. Demyelination of neurons in the central nervous system
Answer: D
Rationale: Multiple Sclerosis is an autoimmune condition where the immune system
attacks the myelin sheath of nerves specifically within the central nervous system (brain
and spinal cord).
7. A patient presents with extreme polyuria and a low urine specific gravity.
Which condition should be suspected?
A. SIADH
B. Diabetes Insipidus
C. Diabetes Mellitus Type 2
D. Hypoparathyroidism
Answer: B
Rationale: Diabetes Insipidus is caused by a deficiency of ADH or a lack of response to it,
leading to the inability to concentrate urine and resulting in high volumes of dilute urine.
8. Which of the following is a classic symptom of Graves’ Disease?
A. Weight gain
B. Exophthalmos
C. Bradycardia
D. Cold intolerance
Answer: B
Rationale: Graves’ disease is a form of hyperthyroidism often characterized by
exophthalmos (bulging eyes) due to inflammation of the extraocular muscles and fat.
1. Which of the following is the primary pathophysiological mechanism
underlying Type 1 Diabetes Mellitus?
A. Autoimmune destruction of pancreatic beta cells
B. Insulin resistance in peripheral tissues
C. Hypersecretion of glucagon by alpha cells
D. Excessive dietary glucose intake
Answer: A
Rationale: Type 1 Diabetes Mellitus is primarily an autoimmune disease where the body’s
immune system attacks and destroys the insulin-producing beta cells in the islets of
Langerhans.
2. Which electrolyte abnormality is a hallmark of Syndrome of Inappropriate
Antidiuretic Hormone (SIADH)?
A. Hyponatremia
B. Hypernatremia
C. Hyperkalemia
D. Hypocalcemia
Answer: A
Rationale: SIADH leads to excessive water retention, which dilutes the blood, resulting in
dilutional hyponatremia.
,3. In Parkinson’s disease, the depletion of which neurotransmitter in the
substantia nigra leads to motor symptoms?
A. Acetylcholine
B. Serotonin
C. GABA
D. Dopamine
Answer: D
Rationale: Parkinson’s disease is characterized by the loss of dopaminergic neurons in the
substantia nigra pars compacta, leading to a deficiency of dopamine.
4. What is the characteristic pathological finding in the joints of a patient with
Rheumatoid Arthritis?
A. Degeneration of articular cartilage due to wear and tear
B. Urate crystal deposition
C. Pannus formation and synovial membrane inflammation
D. Heberden’s nodes
Answer: C
Rationale: Rheumatoid arthritis involves chronic inflammation of the synovium, leading to
the formation of pannus, which is granulated tissue that erodes cartilage and bone.
5. Which condition is characterized by a ‘moon face,’ ‘buffalo hump,’ and central
obesity due to excess glucocorticoids?
A. Addison’s Disease
B. Hashimoto’s Thyroiditis
C. Cushing’s Syndrome
D. Pheochromocytoma
Answer: C
Rationale: Cushing’s syndrome results from chronic exposure to excess cortisol, leading to
characteristic fat redistribution.
, 6. Which of the following describes the pathophysiology of Multiple Sclerosis
(MS)?
A. Degeneration of the myelin sheath in the peripheral nervous system
B. Destruction of lower motor neurons in the spinal cord
C. Loss of acetylcholine receptors at the neuromuscular junction
D. Demyelination of neurons in the central nervous system
Answer: D
Rationale: Multiple Sclerosis is an autoimmune condition where the immune system
attacks the myelin sheath of nerves specifically within the central nervous system (brain
and spinal cord).
7. A patient presents with extreme polyuria and a low urine specific gravity.
Which condition should be suspected?
A. SIADH
B. Diabetes Insipidus
C. Diabetes Mellitus Type 2
D. Hypoparathyroidism
Answer: B
Rationale: Diabetes Insipidus is caused by a deficiency of ADH or a lack of response to it,
leading to the inability to concentrate urine and resulting in high volumes of dilute urine.
8. Which of the following is a classic symptom of Graves’ Disease?
A. Weight gain
B. Exophthalmos
C. Bradycardia
D. Cold intolerance
Answer: B
Rationale: Graves’ disease is a form of hyperthyroidism often characterized by
exophthalmos (bulging eyes) due to inflammation of the extraocular muscles and fat.
