WGU Pathophysiology D236 actual Exam Questions with 100% correct answers 2026

Describe how your body responds to an infection.

T cells produce cytokines, which stimulate B cells. B cells produce antibodies.

Identify role of DNA changes in congenital abnormalities.

Mutations in genes or chromosomal abnormalities

How does development disrupts congenital abnormalities?

Alterations of DNA

Describes factors that disrupt homeostasis and how disruptions affect wellbeing.

(ex) Fluid and electrolyte shifts can cause n/v or dysrhythmias.

Explain RAAS

Renin-angiotensin-aldosterone system

1. Reduce blood flow causes kidneys to release renin

> produce angiotensin I > converts angiotensin I to angiotensin II > vasoconstriction > release aldosterone > kidneys conserve sodium and water > Result less water lost in urine and blood pressure maintained.

DKA

increased anion gap, decreased HCO3

How do kidneys compensate for alkalosis

retain H and excrete HCO3

Untreated acidosis leads to an increase in which electrolyte?

Potassium

West Nile Virus

Transmitted through the bite of an infected mosquito. Severe signs and symptoms; high fever, headache and stiff neck

Lyme disease

Tick-borne disease caused by the spirochete Borrelia burgdorferi.

Erythema infectiosum

a febrile upper respiratory illness in a child followed by the sudden appearance of red, flushed cheeks, "fifth disease"

Obesity ad diabetes are risk factors for having a child with _____.

Spina bifida

Trousseau's sign

arm/carpal spasm associated with hypocalcemia

Cause and sign of spina bifida

results from failure of neural tube to close. sign - fluid filled sac on lower back.

hemophilia is more common in

males

Prenatal exposure to alcohol includes

ND-PAE, decreased brain function, FAS

Connective vs muscle tissue disorders

Connective- RA, Scleroderma, Lupus

Muscle - MS, Muscular dystrophy, Myasthenia Gravia

Describe Lupus

Inflammatory disorder characterized by joint pain and butterfly rash

Describe Myasthenia Gravis

It is an autoimmune disorder where antibodies attack own Ach receptors. This causes weakness of skeletal muscles over the course of the day, along with ptosis, double vision, and difficulty swallowing.

dermatitis

inflammation of the skin

eczema

noninfectious, inflammatory skin disease characterized by redness, blisters, scabs, and itching

decubitus ulcer

sore caused by lying down for long periods of time

Fungal infections

superficial, localized skin conditions or deep tissue infections caused by exposure to spores

may or may not be transmitted

benign neoplasm

noncancerous growths, stationary, distinct borders

malignant neoplasm

uncontrolled new tissue growth, irregular borders, spreads

Osteoporosis

The loss of bone mass often due to age, causing the bones to become porous, brittle, and easily fractured.

osteomalacia

disease marked by softening of the bone caused by calcium and vitamin D deficiency

myoglobin

red pigment that stores oxygen in muscle cells

Bursa

fluid-filled sac that allows for easy movement of one part of a joint over another

Rickets

a vitamin D deficiency in children, resulting in soft bones

Degenerative disk disease

A condition in which an intervertebral disk loses its normal structural integrity as a result of wear and tear, acute or repeated injuries or aging

Paget disease

Chronic inflammation of bones, resulting in thickening and softening of bones, that can occur in any bone but most commonly affects the long bones of the legs, the lower spine, the pelvis, and the skull

communiuted fracture

splintered into many pieces

Three types of skin cancer

1. Basal cell carcinoma

2. Squamous cell carcinoma

3. Melanoma

basal cell carcinoma

Most common and least severe type of skin cancer; often characterized by light or pearly nodules. Rarely metastasize, most common on face due to sun exposure

squamous cell carcinoma

Type of skin cancer more serious than basal cell carcinoma; often characterized by scaly red crusted papules or firm nodules.

Melanoma

The most serious form of skin cancer, caucasian males at highest risk, usually black or brown lesion

consequences when integumentary system is disrupted

impaired immunity

types of burns

Superficial (1st degree) - red/painful

Partial-thickness (2nd degree) -wet/pink/painful

Full-thickness (3rd degree) -white/swollen/no pain

Viltigo

localized loss of skin pigmentation characterized by milk-white patches

ischemic CVA vs hemorrhagic CVA

ischemic - clot vs hemorrhagic - blood

subdural hematoma

collection of blood under the dura mater

Alzheimer's disease vs parkinson's disease

Alz - affects language and memory

Park - affects all executive functioning

Huntington's disease

Genetic disorder that causes progressive deterioration of brain cells. caused by a dominant allele. symptoms do not appear until about the age of 30. involves involuntary muscle movement

Sclerosis

abnormal condition of hardening

disorders that cause vision loss

glaucoma - loss of pheripheral vision, cataracts - cloudy vision, retinal detachment - floaters, flashes, curtain vision

kyphosis

excessive outward curvature of the spine, causing hunching of the back.

disorders that cause hearing loss

Meniere's disease - changes in fluid in tube of inner ear (imbalance and vertigo), Otitis media - middle ear infection

Predisposing factors of ischemic stroke

a fib, carotid stenosis, cerebral arteriosclerosis

rheumatoid arthritis

A chronic systemic disease characterized by inflammation of the joints, stiffness, pain, and swelling that results in crippling deformities. Causes elevated WBC counts.

cerebral contusion

the bruising of brain tissue as the result of a head injury that causes the brain to bounce against the rigid bone of the skull; symptoms: ringing in ears, severe headache, n/v.

TIA vs CVA

TIA =

-result when a cerebral artery is temp blocked and decreases blood flow to brain

Stroke= artery completely blocked

leading to death of brain and permanent loss of certain functions

multiple sclerosis

A chronic, irreversible disease of the central nervous system marked by damage to the myelin sheath. Plaques occur in the brain and spinal cord causing tremor, weakness, incoordination, paresthesia, and disturbances in vision and speech

aneurysm

ballooning of a weakened portion of an arterial wall

thrombus vs embolus

Thrombus = clot in arteries

embolus = dislodged traveling clot in arteries, blocks blood flow

Artherosclerosis

Hardening and narrowing of the arteries due to buildup of cholesterol plaques

1.endothelial injury

2.foam cell formation

3.fatty streak formation

angina pectoris

chest pain, which may radiate to the left arm and jaw, that occurs when there is an insufficient supply of blood to the heart muscle

myocardial infarction

the occlusion of one or more coronary arteries caused by plaque buildup (heart attack)

endocaritis

inflammation of the inner lining of the heart

peridcarditis

inflammation of the pericardium (sack surrounding heart)

benign vs malignant hypertension

benign - "essential hypertension", chronic vascular damage due to sodium retention.

malignant - acute vascular damage due to renin release

communicable disease

A disease that can be spread from one person or species to another.

infectious disease

A disease that is caused by a pathogen and that can be spread from one individual to another.

myocardial infarction causes damage to

arteries of : brain, retina, heart, kidneys.

what is expected in right sided heart falure

JVD

what characterizes hypertensive crisis

systolic BP > 180

types of anemia

- Aplastic (decreased or missing RBC production)

- Iron Deficiency

- Folic Acid Deficiency

- Vitamin B12 Deficiency/Pernicious

- Hemolytic (breakdown of RBCs faster than produced)

- Sickle Cell (RBCs die too early, shortage of RBCs)

Where does cancer originate from in leukemia?

bone marrow

CD4 cells

Helper T cells that mature in thymus that active B cells to create immunity

Hodgkin's lymphoma

distinguished from other lymphomas by the presence of large, cancerous lymphocytes known as Reed-Sternberg cells

Lymphocytosis

abnormal increase in lymphocytes, asymptomatic

Stable angina

predictable and consistent pain that occurs on exertion and is relieved by rest and/or nitroglycerin

Upper respiratory tract infection

common cold, laryngitis, croup, pharyngitis, rhinitis, sinusitis, and tonsillitis

lower respiratory tract infection

pneumonia, bronchitis, tuberculosis

conditions that lead to COPD

smoking, asthma, dust, chemicals, genetics

pnemonia

an inflammation in the lung caused by infection from bacteria, viruses, fungi, or parasites, or resulting from aspiration of chemicals. Hear crackles and rhonchi.

Asthma

treatment resistant bronchospasm, same category of COPD

pneumothorax

air in the pleural cavity caused by a puncture of the lung or chest wall

cor pulmonale

right-sided heart failure arising from chronic lung disease

Coal Worker's Pneumoconiosis

Carbon dust, seen in coal miners. Massive exposure leads to diffuse fibrosis('black lung')

common characteristics of chronic digestive system disorders

(Celiac, Chron's, Colitis...) Abdominal pain, weight loss, changes in urination/bowel movements, bleeding, diarrhea, n/v....

common characteristics of acute digestive system disorders

(GERD, IBS, Hiatal hernia...) Abd pain, bleeding, bloating, diarrhea, heartburn, n/v

pyelonephritis

Inflammation of the renal pelvis and kidney; caused by bacterial infection (commonly E. Coli)

glomerulonephritis

inflammation of the glomeruli in the kidneys from injury or illness

renal calculi (kidney stones)

-Minerals in urine crystallize

-Most can pass, but some become too big and obstruct a ureter

renal cell carcinoma

cancerous tumor that arises from kidney tubule cells; flank pain, hematuria, abd lump

end-stage renal disease (ESRD)

any type of kidney disease in which there is little or no remaining kidney function, requiring the patient to undergo dialysis or kidney transplant for survival. Symptoms: n/v, fatigue, change in urination, chest pain, HTN, AMS

Continuous Renal Replacement Therapy (CRRT)

method used to replace normal kidney function by circulating the patient's blood through a hemofilter and returning it to the patient. benefit over other dialysis - happens 24 hrs/ day > slower shift in electrolytes

ulcerative colitis

chronic inflammation of the colon with presence of ulcers - autoimmune and inflammatory bowel diseases

Diverticulitis

inflammation of a diverticulum, especially in the colon, causing pain and disturbance of bowel function. Relieved by bowel movement, advise against enema and colonoscopy.

organ targeted by virus that causes hep c

liver

Hepatisis A,B,C,D,E spreads

A and E - fecal/oral

BCD - blood, bodily fluids

Cholecystitis

inflammation of the gallbladder; usually associated with gallstones (RUQ pain radiates to back)

GERD cause

failure of the lower esophageal sphincter to close

pancreatitis

inflammation of the pancreas, can be cause by gallstone blocks common bile duct

Chron's disease

A chronic inflammatory bowel disease that affects the lining of the digestive tract, chronic symptoms: diarrhea, sores, fistula, weight loss

Acute Kidney Injury (AKI)

rapid loss of renal function due to damage to the kidneys; formerly called acute renal failure

Colon cancer symptoms/signs?

1. Right sided - iron deficiency anemia

2. Left sided - obstruction

3. "Apple core" lesion on barium enema

4. Pencil thin stools

5. Hematochezia (bright red blood)

6. Colicky pain

6. Partial obstruction

risk factors for renal cancer

smoking, overweight, HTN

risk factors for bladder cancer

Smoking**, occupational exposure to dyes (benzenes, aromatic amines), Hx of gross hematuria, >40 y/o, hx of urologic disorder, Hx of irritative voiding symptoms, Hx of UTI, analgesic abuse, history of pelvic irradiation