WGU D236 PATHOPHYSIOLOGY PRACTICE EXAM |
QUESTIONS AND ANSWERS | VERIFIED ANSWERS PLUS
RATIONALES | EXAM ALREADY GRADED A+ | LATEST
EXAM
1. Which process describes the ability of a cell to maintain a stable internal environment?
A. Metaplasia
B. Homeostasis
C. Hyperplasia
D. Necrosis
Answer: B. Homeostasis
Rationale: Homeostasis is the process by which cells and organisms regulate internal conditions
to maintain stability despite external changes.
2. Cellular swelling is most commonly associated with which type of cell injury?
A. Irreversible injury
B. Apoptosis
C. Reversible injury
D. Dysplasia
Answer: C. Reversible injury
Rationale: Cellular swelling results from failure of ATP-dependent sodium-potassium pumps and
is an early sign of reversible cell injury.
3. Which electrolyte imbalance is most likely to cause cardiac dysrhythmias?
A. Hypernatremia
B. Hypokalemia
C. Hypercalcemia
D. Hypermagnesemia
Answer: B. Hypokalemia
Rationale: Potassium is critical for cardiac electrical activity. Low potassium levels can cause
dangerous arrhythmias.
4. Apoptosis is best described as:
A. Accidental cell death
B. Programmed cell death
,C. Inflammatory necrosis
D. Cellular hypertrophy
Answer: B. Programmed cell death
Rationale: Apoptosis is an organized, programmed mechanism of cell death that does not
typically trigger inflammation.
5. Which adaptation involves an increase in cell size?
A. Hyperplasia
B. Atrophy
C. Hypertrophy
D. Metaplasia
Answer: C. Hypertrophy
Rationale: Hypertrophy refers to enlargement of existing cells, commonly seen in skeletal and
cardiac muscle.
6. The most common cause of hypoxia is:
A. Anemia
B. Ischemia
C. Carbon monoxide poisoning
D. Hypoventilation
Answer: B. Ischemia
Rationale: Ischemia reduces blood flow and oxygen delivery to tissues, making it the most
common cause of hypoxia.
7. Which acid-base imbalance is caused by hypoventilation?
A. Metabolic acidosis
B. Respiratory acidosis
C. Metabolic alkalosis
D. Respiratory alkalosis
Answer: B. Respiratory acidosis
Rationale: Hypoventilation causes CO₂ retention, increasing carbonic acid and lowering pH.
8. Inflammation is primarily mediated by which cells?
A. Erythrocytes
B. Neutrophils
C. Platelets
D. Osteocytes
,Answer: B. Neutrophils
Rationale: Neutrophils are first responders in acute inflammation and are key mediators of the
inflammatory response.
9. Which type of necrosis is characteristic of myocardial infarction?
A. Liquefactive
B. Caseous
C. Coagulative
D. Fat
Answer: C. Coagulative
Rationale: Coagulative necrosis is typical of ischemic injury in solid organs like the heart.
10. Edema is caused by:
A. Decreased hydrostatic pressure
B. Increased oncotic pressure
C. Increased capillary permeability
D. Decreased sodium retention
Answer: C. Increased capillary permeability
Rationale: Increased permeability allows fluid to leak into interstitial spaces, causing edema.
(Continuing…)
11. Which condition causes metabolic acidosis?
A. Vomiting
B. Diarrhea
C. Hyperventilation
D. Excess antacid use
Answer: B. Diarrhea
Rationale: Diarrhea leads to loss of bicarbonate, resulting in metabolic acidosis.
12. Which hormone regulates sodium and water retention?
A. Insulin
B. Aldosterone
C. Cortisol
D. Glucagon
Answer: B. Aldosterone
Rationale: Aldosterone increases sodium reabsorption in the kidneys, promoting water retention.
, 13. Hypercalcemia is most commonly associated with:
A. Hypoparathyroidism
B. Hyperparathyroidism
C. Vitamin D deficiency
D. Renal failure
Answer: B. Hyperparathyroidism
Rationale: Excess parathyroid hormone increases calcium release from bone.
14. Which white blood cell is elevated in allergic reactions?
A. Neutrophils
B. Basophils
C. Eosinophils
D. Monocytes
Answer: C. Eosinophils
Rationale: Eosinophils are involved in allergic and parasitic responses.
15. The primary buffer system in the blood is:
A. Phosphate
B. Protein
C. Bicarbonate
D. Hemoglobin
Answer: C. Bicarbonate
Rationale: The bicarbonate-carbonic acid system is the major extracellular buffer.
16. Fever is primarily regulated by which structure?
A. Cerebellum
B. Hypothalamus
C. Medulla
D. Pituitary
Answer: B. Hypothalamus
Rationale: The hypothalamus controls body temperature set point during infection.
17. Which condition is characterized by decreased hemoglobin?
A. Leukemia
B. Anemia
C. Polycythemia
D. Thrombocytopenia
QUESTIONS AND ANSWERS | VERIFIED ANSWERS PLUS
RATIONALES | EXAM ALREADY GRADED A+ | LATEST
EXAM
1. Which process describes the ability of a cell to maintain a stable internal environment?
A. Metaplasia
B. Homeostasis
C. Hyperplasia
D. Necrosis
Answer: B. Homeostasis
Rationale: Homeostasis is the process by which cells and organisms regulate internal conditions
to maintain stability despite external changes.
2. Cellular swelling is most commonly associated with which type of cell injury?
A. Irreversible injury
B. Apoptosis
C. Reversible injury
D. Dysplasia
Answer: C. Reversible injury
Rationale: Cellular swelling results from failure of ATP-dependent sodium-potassium pumps and
is an early sign of reversible cell injury.
3. Which electrolyte imbalance is most likely to cause cardiac dysrhythmias?
A. Hypernatremia
B. Hypokalemia
C. Hypercalcemia
D. Hypermagnesemia
Answer: B. Hypokalemia
Rationale: Potassium is critical for cardiac electrical activity. Low potassium levels can cause
dangerous arrhythmias.
4. Apoptosis is best described as:
A. Accidental cell death
B. Programmed cell death
,C. Inflammatory necrosis
D. Cellular hypertrophy
Answer: B. Programmed cell death
Rationale: Apoptosis is an organized, programmed mechanism of cell death that does not
typically trigger inflammation.
5. Which adaptation involves an increase in cell size?
A. Hyperplasia
B. Atrophy
C. Hypertrophy
D. Metaplasia
Answer: C. Hypertrophy
Rationale: Hypertrophy refers to enlargement of existing cells, commonly seen in skeletal and
cardiac muscle.
6. The most common cause of hypoxia is:
A. Anemia
B. Ischemia
C. Carbon monoxide poisoning
D. Hypoventilation
Answer: B. Ischemia
Rationale: Ischemia reduces blood flow and oxygen delivery to tissues, making it the most
common cause of hypoxia.
7. Which acid-base imbalance is caused by hypoventilation?
A. Metabolic acidosis
B. Respiratory acidosis
C. Metabolic alkalosis
D. Respiratory alkalosis
Answer: B. Respiratory acidosis
Rationale: Hypoventilation causes CO₂ retention, increasing carbonic acid and lowering pH.
8. Inflammation is primarily mediated by which cells?
A. Erythrocytes
B. Neutrophils
C. Platelets
D. Osteocytes
,Answer: B. Neutrophils
Rationale: Neutrophils are first responders in acute inflammation and are key mediators of the
inflammatory response.
9. Which type of necrosis is characteristic of myocardial infarction?
A. Liquefactive
B. Caseous
C. Coagulative
D. Fat
Answer: C. Coagulative
Rationale: Coagulative necrosis is typical of ischemic injury in solid organs like the heart.
10. Edema is caused by:
A. Decreased hydrostatic pressure
B. Increased oncotic pressure
C. Increased capillary permeability
D. Decreased sodium retention
Answer: C. Increased capillary permeability
Rationale: Increased permeability allows fluid to leak into interstitial spaces, causing edema.
(Continuing…)
11. Which condition causes metabolic acidosis?
A. Vomiting
B. Diarrhea
C. Hyperventilation
D. Excess antacid use
Answer: B. Diarrhea
Rationale: Diarrhea leads to loss of bicarbonate, resulting in metabolic acidosis.
12. Which hormone regulates sodium and water retention?
A. Insulin
B. Aldosterone
C. Cortisol
D. Glucagon
Answer: B. Aldosterone
Rationale: Aldosterone increases sodium reabsorption in the kidneys, promoting water retention.
, 13. Hypercalcemia is most commonly associated with:
A. Hypoparathyroidism
B. Hyperparathyroidism
C. Vitamin D deficiency
D. Renal failure
Answer: B. Hyperparathyroidism
Rationale: Excess parathyroid hormone increases calcium release from bone.
14. Which white blood cell is elevated in allergic reactions?
A. Neutrophils
B. Basophils
C. Eosinophils
D. Monocytes
Answer: C. Eosinophils
Rationale: Eosinophils are involved in allergic and parasitic responses.
15. The primary buffer system in the blood is:
A. Phosphate
B. Protein
C. Bicarbonate
D. Hemoglobin
Answer: C. Bicarbonate
Rationale: The bicarbonate-carbonic acid system is the major extracellular buffer.
16. Fever is primarily regulated by which structure?
A. Cerebellum
B. Hypothalamus
C. Medulla
D. Pituitary
Answer: B. Hypothalamus
Rationale: The hypothalamus controls body temperature set point during infection.
17. Which condition is characterized by decreased hemoglobin?
A. Leukemia
B. Anemia
C. Polycythemia
D. Thrombocytopenia
