EXAM WGU D236: WGU
PATHOPHYSIOLOGY D236,
2025/2026 WITH
CORRECT/ACCURATE ANSWERS
Describe any two disorders of your choice that are caused by
pituitary gland dysfunction - CORRECT ANSWERS- 1. The pituitary
is considered the master gland because it either makes and
secretes or stores and secretes the majority of the tropic
hormones.,
2. Diabetes insipidus is a hypopituitarism disorder in which ADH is
not secreted from the posterior pituitary. This results in kidney
malfunction because the nephron will not reabsorb water, leading
to loss of water in the urine and concentration of sodium in the
blood. Dehydration and hyperatremia result.,
3. Syndrome of Inappropriate ADH (SIADH) is the opposite
disorder - hyperpituitarism resulting in excessive secretion of
ADH. This can result from brain injury or neurosurgery. ADH leads
to too much reabsorption in the nephrons of the kidneys,
concentrating urine and leading to hypervolemia (fluid overload)
and hyponatremia.
Compare hormonal vs neural signals. Comment on the need for
these differences based on the response time required.
,Hint: Think about the steroidal vs non-steroidal hormone response
to electrochemical signals fired by neurons - CORRECT ANSWERS-
Both hormonal and neural signals are required for our body to
respond to environmental and developmental changes.
Neuronal responses are almost immediate, allowing responses
such as the ability to move and balance, the 5 senses, and the
regulation of autonomic responses.
Hormonal responses are more long term, allowing reactions that
can occur over several minutes or even over several days!
This allows for negative feedback loops to occur to maintain our
body's responses over a longer period.
Give an example of primary hyperthyroid disease.
Describe the pathophysiology and manifestations of this disease. -
CORRECT ANSWERS- Primary hyperthyroid disease occurs when
thyroid-stimulating antibodies activate the thyroid itself to secrete
excess T3 and T4.
Grave's Disease is a very common example, and manifests with
an enlarge thyroid, nervousness, insomnia, sensitivity to heat,
weight loss, and potentially cardiac arrhythmia.
,Exophthalmos may also result due to extraocular deposits that
push the eyes forward and can cause edema - this will result in
visual impairment if it is prolonged.
Describe the negative feedback loop utilized by the endocrine
system with an example of a marathon runner - CORRECT
ANSWERS- A negative feedback loop occurs when the build up of
one molecule leads to the repression of the response that creates
the molecule.
The example of a marathon runner occurs with negative feedback
between the hypothalamus and the metabolic muscles and
organs of the body.
The hypothalamus secretes CRF during the marathon, simulating
the release of ACTH from the pituitary. This causes cortisol
release from the adrenal gland, ultimately leading to the "fight or
flight" response that stimulates metabolism in the muscles and
organs.
The cortisol feeds back to the pituitary, shutting off the stimulus
to the adrenal gland, and thus creating the negative feedback
loop.,
When an individual is running in a marathon, the hypothalamus
receives signals from the body that the muscles and organs have
extra metabolic needs.
, The hypothalamus secretes corticotrophin-releasing factor (CRF),
which stimulates the pituitary gland.
The pituitary gland secretes ACTH (Adrenocorticotropic hormone),
which, in turn, stimulates the adrenal gland to secrete the
hormone cortisol.
As cortisol levels in the bloodstream rise, the pituitary senses the
increased level and shuts off the stimulus to the adrenal gland;
this is an example of the endocrine negative feedback system
Why is Diabetic Ketoacidosis (DKA) a more significant problem for
Type 1 Diabetes Mellitus than Type 2 Diabetes Mellitus? -
CORRECT ANSWERS- Type 1 diabetes results from complete lack
of insulin whereas type 2 simply involves insulin resistance.
With complete lack of insulin, glucose cannot be absorbed at all
by the tissues, leading to a "starvation" response from the body.
The starvation response leads to the breakdown of fat and
subsequence ketogenesis, resulting in excessive ketone body
production.
In contract, there is still some glucose absorption,in Type 2
diabetes, which means the starvation response is not initiating to
the point of excessive ketogenesis.,
DKA is a result of increasing ketone concentration in the
bloodstream.
PATHOPHYSIOLOGY D236,
2025/2026 WITH
CORRECT/ACCURATE ANSWERS
Describe any two disorders of your choice that are caused by
pituitary gland dysfunction - CORRECT ANSWERS- 1. The pituitary
is considered the master gland because it either makes and
secretes or stores and secretes the majority of the tropic
hormones.,
2. Diabetes insipidus is a hypopituitarism disorder in which ADH is
not secreted from the posterior pituitary. This results in kidney
malfunction because the nephron will not reabsorb water, leading
to loss of water in the urine and concentration of sodium in the
blood. Dehydration and hyperatremia result.,
3. Syndrome of Inappropriate ADH (SIADH) is the opposite
disorder - hyperpituitarism resulting in excessive secretion of
ADH. This can result from brain injury or neurosurgery. ADH leads
to too much reabsorption in the nephrons of the kidneys,
concentrating urine and leading to hypervolemia (fluid overload)
and hyponatremia.
Compare hormonal vs neural signals. Comment on the need for
these differences based on the response time required.
,Hint: Think about the steroidal vs non-steroidal hormone response
to electrochemical signals fired by neurons - CORRECT ANSWERS-
Both hormonal and neural signals are required for our body to
respond to environmental and developmental changes.
Neuronal responses are almost immediate, allowing responses
such as the ability to move and balance, the 5 senses, and the
regulation of autonomic responses.
Hormonal responses are more long term, allowing reactions that
can occur over several minutes or even over several days!
This allows for negative feedback loops to occur to maintain our
body's responses over a longer period.
Give an example of primary hyperthyroid disease.
Describe the pathophysiology and manifestations of this disease. -
CORRECT ANSWERS- Primary hyperthyroid disease occurs when
thyroid-stimulating antibodies activate the thyroid itself to secrete
excess T3 and T4.
Grave's Disease is a very common example, and manifests with
an enlarge thyroid, nervousness, insomnia, sensitivity to heat,
weight loss, and potentially cardiac arrhythmia.
,Exophthalmos may also result due to extraocular deposits that
push the eyes forward and can cause edema - this will result in
visual impairment if it is prolonged.
Describe the negative feedback loop utilized by the endocrine
system with an example of a marathon runner - CORRECT
ANSWERS- A negative feedback loop occurs when the build up of
one molecule leads to the repression of the response that creates
the molecule.
The example of a marathon runner occurs with negative feedback
between the hypothalamus and the metabolic muscles and
organs of the body.
The hypothalamus secretes CRF during the marathon, simulating
the release of ACTH from the pituitary. This causes cortisol
release from the adrenal gland, ultimately leading to the "fight or
flight" response that stimulates metabolism in the muscles and
organs.
The cortisol feeds back to the pituitary, shutting off the stimulus
to the adrenal gland, and thus creating the negative feedback
loop.,
When an individual is running in a marathon, the hypothalamus
receives signals from the body that the muscles and organs have
extra metabolic needs.
, The hypothalamus secretes corticotrophin-releasing factor (CRF),
which stimulates the pituitary gland.
The pituitary gland secretes ACTH (Adrenocorticotropic hormone),
which, in turn, stimulates the adrenal gland to secrete the
hormone cortisol.
As cortisol levels in the bloodstream rise, the pituitary senses the
increased level and shuts off the stimulus to the adrenal gland;
this is an example of the endocrine negative feedback system
Why is Diabetic Ketoacidosis (DKA) a more significant problem for
Type 1 Diabetes Mellitus than Type 2 Diabetes Mellitus? -
CORRECT ANSWERS- Type 1 diabetes results from complete lack
of insulin whereas type 2 simply involves insulin resistance.
With complete lack of insulin, glucose cannot be absorbed at all
by the tissues, leading to a "starvation" response from the body.
The starvation response leads to the breakdown of fat and
subsequence ketogenesis, resulting in excessive ketone body
production.
In contract, there is still some glucose absorption,in Type 2
diabetes, which means the starvation response is not initiating to
the point of excessive ketogenesis.,
DKA is a result of increasing ketone concentration in the
bloodstream.
