WGU D236 pathophysiology Latest Update 2025\2026
Verified Answers
What is Starling's Law of Capillary forces?
How does this explain why a nutritionally deficient child would have edema?
- correct answer ✅Starling's Law describes how fluids move across the
capillary membrane. There are two major opposing forces that act to
balance each other, hydrostatic pressure (pushing water out of the
capillaries) and osmotic pressure (including oncontic pressure, which pushes
fluid into the capillaries).
Both electrolytes and proteins (oncontic pressure) in the blood affect
osmotic pressure, high electrolyte and protein concentrations in the blood
would cause water to leave the cells and interstitial space and enter the
blood stream to dilute the high concentrations.
On, the other hand, low electrolyte and protein concentrations (as seen in a
nutritionally deficient child) would cause water to leave the capillaries and
enter the cells and interstitial fluid which can lead to edema.
,How does the RAAS (Renin-Angiotensin-Aldosterone System) result in
increased blood volume and increased blood pressure? - correct answer
✅A drop in blood pressure is sensed by the kidneys by low perfusion,
which in turn begins to secrete renin.
Renin then triggers the liver to produce angiotensinogen, which is converted
to Angiotensin I in the lungs and then angiotensin II by the enzyme
Angiotensin-converting enzyme (ACE). Angiotensin II stimulates peripheral
arterial vasoconstriction which raises BP.
Angiotensin II is also stimulating the adrenal gland to release aldosterone,
which acts to increase sodium and water reabsorption increasing blood
volume, while also increased potassium secretion in urine.
How can hyperkalemia lead to cardiac arrest? - correct answer ✅Normal
levels of potassium are between 3.5 and 5.2 mEq/dL. Hyperkalemia refers to
potassium levels higher that 5.2 mEq/dL.
,A major function of potassium is to conduct nerve impulses in muscles. Too
low and muscle weakness occurs and too much can cause muscle spasms.
This is especially dangerous in the heart muscle and an irregular heartbeat
can cause a heart attack
The body uses the Protein Buffering System, Phosphate Buffering System,
and Carbonic Acid-Bicarbonate System to regulate and maintain homeostatic
pH, what is the consequence of a pH imbalance - correct answer
✅Proteins contain many acidic and basic group that can be affected by pH
changes. Any increase or decrease in blood pH can alter the structure of the
protein (denature), thereby affecting its function as well
Describe the laboratory findings associated with metabolic acidosis,
metabolic alkalosis, respiratory acidosis and respiratory alkalosis. (ie relative
pH and CO2 levels). - correct answer ✅Normal ABGs (Arterial Blood Gases)
Blood pH: 7.35-7.45 PCO2: 35-45 mm Hg PO2: 90-100 mm Hg HCO3-: 22-26
mEq/L SaO2: 95-100%
Respiratory acidosis and alkalosis are marked by changes in PCO2. Higher =
acidosis and lower = alkalosis
, Metabolic acidosis and alkalosis are caused by something other than
abnormal CO2 levels. This could include toxicity, diabetes, renal failure or
excessive GI losses.
Here are the rules to follow to determine if is respiratory or metabolic in
nature. -If pH and PCO2 are moving in opposite directions, then it is the
pCO2 levels that are causing the imbalance and it is respiratory in nature.
-If PCO2 is normal or is moving in the same direction as the pH, then the
imbalance is metabolic in nature.
The anion gap is the difference between measured cations (Na+ and K+) and
measured anions (Cl- and HCO3-), this calculation can be useful in
determining the cause of metabolic acidosis.
Why would an increased anion gap be observed in diabetic ketoacidosis or
lactic acidosis? - correct answer ✅The anion gap is the calculation of
unmeasured anions in the blood.
Verified Answers
What is Starling's Law of Capillary forces?
How does this explain why a nutritionally deficient child would have edema?
- correct answer ✅Starling's Law describes how fluids move across the
capillary membrane. There are two major opposing forces that act to
balance each other, hydrostatic pressure (pushing water out of the
capillaries) and osmotic pressure (including oncontic pressure, which pushes
fluid into the capillaries).
Both electrolytes and proteins (oncontic pressure) in the blood affect
osmotic pressure, high electrolyte and protein concentrations in the blood
would cause water to leave the cells and interstitial space and enter the
blood stream to dilute the high concentrations.
On, the other hand, low electrolyte and protein concentrations (as seen in a
nutritionally deficient child) would cause water to leave the capillaries and
enter the cells and interstitial fluid which can lead to edema.
,How does the RAAS (Renin-Angiotensin-Aldosterone System) result in
increased blood volume and increased blood pressure? - correct answer
✅A drop in blood pressure is sensed by the kidneys by low perfusion,
which in turn begins to secrete renin.
Renin then triggers the liver to produce angiotensinogen, which is converted
to Angiotensin I in the lungs and then angiotensin II by the enzyme
Angiotensin-converting enzyme (ACE). Angiotensin II stimulates peripheral
arterial vasoconstriction which raises BP.
Angiotensin II is also stimulating the adrenal gland to release aldosterone,
which acts to increase sodium and water reabsorption increasing blood
volume, while also increased potassium secretion in urine.
How can hyperkalemia lead to cardiac arrest? - correct answer ✅Normal
levels of potassium are between 3.5 and 5.2 mEq/dL. Hyperkalemia refers to
potassium levels higher that 5.2 mEq/dL.
,A major function of potassium is to conduct nerve impulses in muscles. Too
low and muscle weakness occurs and too much can cause muscle spasms.
This is especially dangerous in the heart muscle and an irregular heartbeat
can cause a heart attack
The body uses the Protein Buffering System, Phosphate Buffering System,
and Carbonic Acid-Bicarbonate System to regulate and maintain homeostatic
pH, what is the consequence of a pH imbalance - correct answer
✅Proteins contain many acidic and basic group that can be affected by pH
changes. Any increase or decrease in blood pH can alter the structure of the
protein (denature), thereby affecting its function as well
Describe the laboratory findings associated with metabolic acidosis,
metabolic alkalosis, respiratory acidosis and respiratory alkalosis. (ie relative
pH and CO2 levels). - correct answer ✅Normal ABGs (Arterial Blood Gases)
Blood pH: 7.35-7.45 PCO2: 35-45 mm Hg PO2: 90-100 mm Hg HCO3-: 22-26
mEq/L SaO2: 95-100%
Respiratory acidosis and alkalosis are marked by changes in PCO2. Higher =
acidosis and lower = alkalosis
, Metabolic acidosis and alkalosis are caused by something other than
abnormal CO2 levels. This could include toxicity, diabetes, renal failure or
excessive GI losses.
Here are the rules to follow to determine if is respiratory or metabolic in
nature. -If pH and PCO2 are moving in opposite directions, then it is the
pCO2 levels that are causing the imbalance and it is respiratory in nature.
-If PCO2 is normal or is moving in the same direction as the pH, then the
imbalance is metabolic in nature.
The anion gap is the difference between measured cations (Na+ and K+) and
measured anions (Cl- and HCO3-), this calculation can be useful in
determining the cause of metabolic acidosis.
Why would an increased anion gap be observed in diabetic ketoacidosis or
lactic acidosis? - correct answer ✅The anion gap is the calculation of
unmeasured anions in the blood.
