D236 Pathophysiology Week 7 Practice Quiz 2026 |WGU
1. Which of the following is the primary pathophysiological mechanism of Type
1 Diabetes Mellitus?
A. Insulin resistance in peripheral tissues
B. Decreased glucose absorption in the gut
C. Excessive glucagon secretion by alpha cells
D. Autoimmune destruction of pancreatic beta cells
Answer: D
Rationale: Type 1 Diabetes is characterized by an autoimmune response where the body’s
immune system attacks and destroys the insulin-producing beta cells in the islets of
Langerhans.
2. A patient presents with exophthalmos, heat intolerance, and tachycardia.
Which condition is most likely?
A. Hashimoto’s Thyroiditis
B. Addison’s Disease
C. Graves’ Disease
D. Cushing Syndrome
Answer: C
Rationale: Graves’ Disease is a form of hyperthyroidism characterized by goiter,
tachycardia, and exophthalmos (bulging eyes) due to thyroid-stimulating
immunoglobulins.
,3. Which electrolyte imbalance is a hallmark sign of Syndrome of Inappropriate
Antidiuretic Hormone (SIADH)?
A. Hypernatremia
B. Hypokalemia
C. Hypercalcemia
D. Hyponatremia
Answer: D
Rationale: SIADH causes excessive water retention, which leads to dilutional
hyponatremia as the increased water volume lowers the concentration of sodium in the
blood.
4. What is the primary cause of the ‘polyuria’ seen in patients with undiagnosed
Diabetes Mellitus?
A. Increased glomerular filtration rate
B. Osmotic diuresis due to glycosuria
C. Decreased ADH production
D. Inflammation of the bladder wall
Answer: B
Rationale: When blood glucose levels exceed the renal threshold, glucose is excreted in the
urine (glycosuria), pulling water with it via osmosis, leading to excessive urination.
5. Cushing Syndrome is caused by an excess of which hormone?
A. Aldosterone
B. Epinephrine
C. Cortisol
D. Growth Hormone
Answer: C
Rationale: Cushing Syndrome results from chronic exposure to excessive levels of cortisol,
whether from endogenous overproduction or exogenous steroid use.
, 6. Which clinical finding is specifically associated with Hypocalcemia?
A. Moon face
B. Chvostek sign
C. Buffalo hump
D. Bronze skin pigmentation
Answer: B
Rationale: The Chvostek sign (facial twitching when the facial nerve is tapped) is a classic
sign of neuromuscular irritability caused by hypocalcemia.
7. Diabetes Insipidus is primarily caused by a deficiency in which hormone?
A. Antidiuretic Hormone (ADH)
B. Aldosterone
C. Insulin
D. Oxytocin
Answer: A
Rationale: Diabetes Insipidus results from a lack of ADH (central) or a lack of response to
ADH (nephrogenic), leading to the inability to concentrate urine.
8. Which condition is characterized by a ‘moon face’, ‘buffalo hump’, and
abdominal striae?
A. Pheochromocytoma
B. Diabetes Insipidus
C. Hypothyroidism
D. Cushing Syndrome
Answer: D
Rationale: These are classic physical signs of cortisol excess seen in Cushing Syndrome,
involving abnormal fat redistribution and protein wasting.
1. Which of the following is the primary pathophysiological mechanism of Type
1 Diabetes Mellitus?
A. Insulin resistance in peripheral tissues
B. Decreased glucose absorption in the gut
C. Excessive glucagon secretion by alpha cells
D. Autoimmune destruction of pancreatic beta cells
Answer: D
Rationale: Type 1 Diabetes is characterized by an autoimmune response where the body’s
immune system attacks and destroys the insulin-producing beta cells in the islets of
Langerhans.
2. A patient presents with exophthalmos, heat intolerance, and tachycardia.
Which condition is most likely?
A. Hashimoto’s Thyroiditis
B. Addison’s Disease
C. Graves’ Disease
D. Cushing Syndrome
Answer: C
Rationale: Graves’ Disease is a form of hyperthyroidism characterized by goiter,
tachycardia, and exophthalmos (bulging eyes) due to thyroid-stimulating
immunoglobulins.
,3. Which electrolyte imbalance is a hallmark sign of Syndrome of Inappropriate
Antidiuretic Hormone (SIADH)?
A. Hypernatremia
B. Hypokalemia
C. Hypercalcemia
D. Hyponatremia
Answer: D
Rationale: SIADH causes excessive water retention, which leads to dilutional
hyponatremia as the increased water volume lowers the concentration of sodium in the
blood.
4. What is the primary cause of the ‘polyuria’ seen in patients with undiagnosed
Diabetes Mellitus?
A. Increased glomerular filtration rate
B. Osmotic diuresis due to glycosuria
C. Decreased ADH production
D. Inflammation of the bladder wall
Answer: B
Rationale: When blood glucose levels exceed the renal threshold, glucose is excreted in the
urine (glycosuria), pulling water with it via osmosis, leading to excessive urination.
5. Cushing Syndrome is caused by an excess of which hormone?
A. Aldosterone
B. Epinephrine
C. Cortisol
D. Growth Hormone
Answer: C
Rationale: Cushing Syndrome results from chronic exposure to excessive levels of cortisol,
whether from endogenous overproduction or exogenous steroid use.
, 6. Which clinical finding is specifically associated with Hypocalcemia?
A. Moon face
B. Chvostek sign
C. Buffalo hump
D. Bronze skin pigmentation
Answer: B
Rationale: The Chvostek sign (facial twitching when the facial nerve is tapped) is a classic
sign of neuromuscular irritability caused by hypocalcemia.
7. Diabetes Insipidus is primarily caused by a deficiency in which hormone?
A. Antidiuretic Hormone (ADH)
B. Aldosterone
C. Insulin
D. Oxytocin
Answer: A
Rationale: Diabetes Insipidus results from a lack of ADH (central) or a lack of response to
ADH (nephrogenic), leading to the inability to concentrate urine.
8. Which condition is characterized by a ‘moon face’, ‘buffalo hump’, and
abdominal striae?
A. Pheochromocytoma
B. Diabetes Insipidus
C. Hypothyroidism
D. Cushing Syndrome
Answer: D
Rationale: These are classic physical signs of cortisol excess seen in Cushing Syndrome,
involving abnormal fat redistribution and protein wasting.
