WGU PATHOPHYSIOLOGY D236 EXAM WITH
100% CORRECT ANSWERS 2026 GRADED A+
What yis yStarling's yLaw yof yCapillary yforces? y
How ydoes ythis yexplain ywhy ya ynutritionally ydeficient ychild ywould yhave yedema? y y y( ycorrect
yanswers y) y yStarling's yLaw ydescribes yhow yfluids ymove yacross ythe ycapillary ymembrane. yThere yare
ytwo ymajor yopposing yforces ythat yact yto ybalance yeach yother, yhydrostatic ypressure y(pushing ywater
yout yof ythe ycapillaries) yand yosmotic ypressure y(including yoncontic ypressure, ywhich ypushes yfluid
yinto ythe ycapillaries). y
Both yelectrolytes yand yproteins y(oncontic ypressure) yin ythe yblood yaffect yosmotic ypressure, yhigh
yelectrolyte yand yprotein yconcentrations yin ythe yblood ywould ycause ywater yto yleave ythe ycells yand
yinterstitial yspace yand yenter ythe yblood ystream yto ydilute ythe yhigh yconcentrations. y
On, ythe yother yhand, ylow yelectrolyte yand yprotein yconcentrations y(as yseen yin ya ynutritionally
ydeficient ychild) ywould ycause ywater yto yleave ythe ycapillaries yand yenter ythe ycells yand yinterstitial
yfluid ywhich ycan ylead yto yedema.
How ydoes ythe yRAAS y(Renin-Angiotensin-Aldosterone ySystem) yresult yin yincreased yblood yvolume
yand yincreased yblood ypressure? y y y( ycorrect yanswers y) y yA ydrop yin yblood ypressure yis ysensed yby ythe
ykidneys yby ylow yperfusion, ywhich yin yturn ybegins y to ysecrete yrenin. y
Renin ythen ytriggers ythe yliver yto yproduce yangiotensinogen, ywhich yis yconverted yto yAngiotensin yI yin
ythe ylungs yand ythen yangiotensin yII yby ythe yenzyme y
GRADED A+
,Angiotensin-converting yenzyme y(ACE). yAngiotensin yII ystimulates yperipheral yarterial
yvasoconstriction ywhich yraises yBP. y
Angiotensin yII yis yalso ystimulating ythe yadrenal ygland yto yrelease yaldosterone, ywhich yacts yto
yincrease ysodium yand ywater yreabsorption yincreasing yblood yvolume, ywhile yalso yincreased
ypotassium ysecretion yin yurine.
How ycan yhyperkalemia ylead yto ycardiac yarrest? y y y( ycorrect yanswers y) y yNormal ylevels yof ypotassium
yare ybetween y3.5 yand y5.2 ymEq/dL. yHyperkalemia yrefers yto ypotassium ylevels yhigher ythat y5.2
ymEq/dL. y
A ymajor yfunction yof ypotassium yis yto yconduct ynerve yimpulses yin ymuscles. yToo ylow yand ymuscle
yweakness yoccurs yand ytoo ymuch ycan ycause ymuscle yspasms. y
This yis yespecially ydangerous yin ythe yheart ymuscle yand yan yirregular yheartbeat ycan ycause ya yheart
yattack
The ybody yuses ythe yProtein yBuffering ySystem, yPhosphate yBuffering ySystem, yand yCarbonic yAcid-
Bicarbonate ySystem yto yregulate yand ymaintain yhomeostatic ypH, ywhat yis ythe yconsequence yof ya ypH
yimbalance y y y( ycorrect yanswers y) y yProteins ycontain ymany yacidic yand ybasic ygroup ythat ycan ybe
yaffected yby ypH ychanges. yAny yincrease yor ydecrease yin yblood ypH ycan yalter ythe ystructure yof ythe
yprotein y(denature), ythereby yaffecting yits yfunction y as ywell
Describe ythe ylaboratory yfindings yassociated ywith ymetabolic yacidosis, ymetabolic yalkalosis,
yrespiratory yacidosis yand yrespiratory yalkalosis. y(ie yrelative ypH yand yCO2 ylevels). y y y( ycorrect
yanswers y) y yNormal yABGs y(Arterial yBlood yGases) yBlood ypH: y7.35-7.45 yPCO2: y35-45 ymm yHg yPO2:
y90-100 ymm yHg yHCO3-: y22-26 ymEq/L ySaO2: y95-100% y
Respiratory yacidosis yand yalkalosis yare ymarked yby ychanges yin yPCO2. yHigher y= yacidosis yand ylower
y= yalkalosis y
GRADED A+
,Metabolic yacidosis yand yalkalosis yare ycaused yby ysomething yother ythan yabnormal yCO2 ylevels. yThis
ycould yinclude ytoxicity, ydiabetes, yrenal yfailure yor yexcessive yGI ylosses. y
Here yare ythe yrules yto yfollow yto ydetermine yif yis yrespiratory yor ymetabolic yin ynature. y-If ypH yand
yPCO2 yare ymoving yin yopposite ydirections, y then yit yis ythe ypCO2 ylevels ythat yare ycausing ythe
yimbalance yand yit yis yrespiratory yin ynature. y
-If yPCO2 yis ynormal yor yis ymoving yin ythe ysame ydirection yas ythe ypH, ythen ythe yimbalance yis
ymetabolic yin ynature.
The yanion ygap yis ythe ydifference ybetween ymeasured ycations y(Na+ yand yK+) yand ymeasured yanions
y(Cl- yand yHCO3-), ythis ycalculation ycan ybe yuseful yin ydetermining ythe ycause yof ymetabolic yacidosis. y
Why ywould yan yincreased yanion ygap ybe yobserved yin ydiabetic yketoacidosis yor ylactic yacidosis? y y y(
ycorrect yanswers y) y yThe yanion ygap yis ythe ycalculation yof yunmeasured yanions yin ythe yblood. y
Lactic yacid yand yketones yboth ylead yto ythe yproduction yof yunmeasured yanions, ywhich yremove
yHCO3- y(a ymeasured yanion) ydue yto ybuffering yof ythe yexcess yH+ yand ytherefore yleads yto yan
yincrease yin ythe yAG.
Why yis yit yimportant yto ymaintain ya yhomeostatic ybalance yof yglucose yin ythe yblood y(ie ydescribe ythe
ypathogenesis yof ydiabetes)? y y y( ycorrect yanswers y) y yInsulin yis ythe yhormone yresponsible yfor
yinitiating ythe yuptake yof yglucose yby ythe ycells. yCells yuse yglucose yto yproduce yenergy y(ATP). y
In ya ynormal yindividual, ywhen yblood yglucose yincreases, ythe ypancreas yis ysignaled yto yproduced yin
yinsulin, ywhich ybinds yto yinsulin yreceptors yon ya ycells ysurface yand yinitiates ythe yuptake yof yglucose. y
Glucose yis ya yvery yreactive ymolecule yand yif yleft yin ythe yblood, yit ycan ystart yto ybind yto yother
yproteins yand ylipids, ywhich ycan ylead yto yloss yof yfunction. y
GRADED A+
, AGEs yare yadvanced yglycation yend yproducts ythat yare ya yresult yof yglucose yreacting ywith ythe
yendothelial ylining, ywhich ycan ylead yto ydamage yin ythe yheart yand ykidneys.
Compare yand ycontrast yType yI yand yType yII yDiabetes y y y( ycorrect yanswers y) y yType yI ydiabetes yis
ycaused yby ylack yof yinsulin. yWith yout yinsulin ysignaling, yglucose ywill ynot ybe ytaken yinto ythe ycell yand
yleads yto yhigh yblood yglucose y(hyperglycemia). yType yI yis yusually ytreated ywith yinsulin yinjections. y
Type yII ydiabetes yis ycaused yby ya ydesensitization yto yinsulin ysignaling. yThe yinsulin yreceptors yare yno
ylonger yresponding y to yinsulin, ywhich yalso yleads yto y hyperglycemia. y
Type yII yis yusually ytreated ywith ydrugs yto yincrease ythe ysensitization yto yinsulin y(metformin), ydietary
yand ylife-style ychanges yor yinsulin yinjections.
Describe ysome yreasons yfor ya ypatient yneeding ydialysis y y y( ycorrect yanswers y) y yAEIOU-acidosis.
yElectrolytes, yIntoxication/Ingestion, yoverload, yuremia. yPatients ywith ykidney yor yheart yfailure. y
A ybuild yup yof yphosphates, yurea yand ymagnesium yare yremoved yfrom ythe yblood yusing ya ysemi-
permeable ymembrane yand ydialysate. y
AEIOU: y
A—acidosis; y
E—electrolytes yprincipally yhyperkalemia; y
I—ingestions yor yoverdose yof ymedications/drugs; y
O—overload yof yfluid ycausing yheart yfailure; y
U—uremia yleading yto yencephalitis/pericarditis
Compare yand ycontrast yhemodialysis yand yperitoneal ydialysis. y
What yare ysome yreasons yfor ya ypatient ychoosing yone yover ythe yother? y y y( ycorrect yanswers y) y
yHemodialysis yuses ya ymachine yto ypump yblood yfrom ythe ybody yin yone ytube ywhile ydialysate y(made
GRADED A+
100% CORRECT ANSWERS 2026 GRADED A+
What yis yStarling's yLaw yof yCapillary yforces? y
How ydoes ythis yexplain ywhy ya ynutritionally ydeficient ychild ywould yhave yedema? y y y( ycorrect
yanswers y) y yStarling's yLaw ydescribes yhow yfluids ymove yacross ythe ycapillary ymembrane. yThere yare
ytwo ymajor yopposing yforces ythat yact yto ybalance yeach yother, yhydrostatic ypressure y(pushing ywater
yout yof ythe ycapillaries) yand yosmotic ypressure y(including yoncontic ypressure, ywhich ypushes yfluid
yinto ythe ycapillaries). y
Both yelectrolytes yand yproteins y(oncontic ypressure) yin ythe yblood yaffect yosmotic ypressure, yhigh
yelectrolyte yand yprotein yconcentrations yin ythe yblood ywould ycause ywater yto yleave ythe ycells yand
yinterstitial yspace yand yenter ythe yblood ystream yto ydilute ythe yhigh yconcentrations. y
On, ythe yother yhand, ylow yelectrolyte yand yprotein yconcentrations y(as yseen yin ya ynutritionally
ydeficient ychild) ywould ycause ywater yto yleave ythe ycapillaries yand yenter ythe ycells yand yinterstitial
yfluid ywhich ycan ylead yto yedema.
How ydoes ythe yRAAS y(Renin-Angiotensin-Aldosterone ySystem) yresult yin yincreased yblood yvolume
yand yincreased yblood ypressure? y y y( ycorrect yanswers y) y yA ydrop yin yblood ypressure yis ysensed yby ythe
ykidneys yby ylow yperfusion, ywhich yin yturn ybegins y to ysecrete yrenin. y
Renin ythen ytriggers ythe yliver yto yproduce yangiotensinogen, ywhich yis yconverted yto yAngiotensin yI yin
ythe ylungs yand ythen yangiotensin yII yby ythe yenzyme y
GRADED A+
,Angiotensin-converting yenzyme y(ACE). yAngiotensin yII ystimulates yperipheral yarterial
yvasoconstriction ywhich yraises yBP. y
Angiotensin yII yis yalso ystimulating ythe yadrenal ygland yto yrelease yaldosterone, ywhich yacts yto
yincrease ysodium yand ywater yreabsorption yincreasing yblood yvolume, ywhile yalso yincreased
ypotassium ysecretion yin yurine.
How ycan yhyperkalemia ylead yto ycardiac yarrest? y y y( ycorrect yanswers y) y yNormal ylevels yof ypotassium
yare ybetween y3.5 yand y5.2 ymEq/dL. yHyperkalemia yrefers yto ypotassium ylevels yhigher ythat y5.2
ymEq/dL. y
A ymajor yfunction yof ypotassium yis yto yconduct ynerve yimpulses yin ymuscles. yToo ylow yand ymuscle
yweakness yoccurs yand ytoo ymuch ycan ycause ymuscle yspasms. y
This yis yespecially ydangerous yin ythe yheart ymuscle yand yan yirregular yheartbeat ycan ycause ya yheart
yattack
The ybody yuses ythe yProtein yBuffering ySystem, yPhosphate yBuffering ySystem, yand yCarbonic yAcid-
Bicarbonate ySystem yto yregulate yand ymaintain yhomeostatic ypH, ywhat yis ythe yconsequence yof ya ypH
yimbalance y y y( ycorrect yanswers y) y yProteins ycontain ymany yacidic yand ybasic ygroup ythat ycan ybe
yaffected yby ypH ychanges. yAny yincrease yor ydecrease yin yblood ypH ycan yalter ythe ystructure yof ythe
yprotein y(denature), ythereby yaffecting yits yfunction y as ywell
Describe ythe ylaboratory yfindings yassociated ywith ymetabolic yacidosis, ymetabolic yalkalosis,
yrespiratory yacidosis yand yrespiratory yalkalosis. y(ie yrelative ypH yand yCO2 ylevels). y y y( ycorrect
yanswers y) y yNormal yABGs y(Arterial yBlood yGases) yBlood ypH: y7.35-7.45 yPCO2: y35-45 ymm yHg yPO2:
y90-100 ymm yHg yHCO3-: y22-26 ymEq/L ySaO2: y95-100% y
Respiratory yacidosis yand yalkalosis yare ymarked yby ychanges yin yPCO2. yHigher y= yacidosis yand ylower
y= yalkalosis y
GRADED A+
,Metabolic yacidosis yand yalkalosis yare ycaused yby ysomething yother ythan yabnormal yCO2 ylevels. yThis
ycould yinclude ytoxicity, ydiabetes, yrenal yfailure yor yexcessive yGI ylosses. y
Here yare ythe yrules yto yfollow yto ydetermine yif yis yrespiratory yor ymetabolic yin ynature. y-If ypH yand
yPCO2 yare ymoving yin yopposite ydirections, y then yit yis ythe ypCO2 ylevels ythat yare ycausing ythe
yimbalance yand yit yis yrespiratory yin ynature. y
-If yPCO2 yis ynormal yor yis ymoving yin ythe ysame ydirection yas ythe ypH, ythen ythe yimbalance yis
ymetabolic yin ynature.
The yanion ygap yis ythe ydifference ybetween ymeasured ycations y(Na+ yand yK+) yand ymeasured yanions
y(Cl- yand yHCO3-), ythis ycalculation ycan ybe yuseful yin ydetermining ythe ycause yof ymetabolic yacidosis. y
Why ywould yan yincreased yanion ygap ybe yobserved yin ydiabetic yketoacidosis yor ylactic yacidosis? y y y(
ycorrect yanswers y) y yThe yanion ygap yis ythe ycalculation yof yunmeasured yanions yin ythe yblood. y
Lactic yacid yand yketones yboth ylead yto ythe yproduction yof yunmeasured yanions, ywhich yremove
yHCO3- y(a ymeasured yanion) ydue yto ybuffering yof ythe yexcess yH+ yand ytherefore yleads yto yan
yincrease yin ythe yAG.
Why yis yit yimportant yto ymaintain ya yhomeostatic ybalance yof yglucose yin ythe yblood y(ie ydescribe ythe
ypathogenesis yof ydiabetes)? y y y( ycorrect yanswers y) y yInsulin yis ythe yhormone yresponsible yfor
yinitiating ythe yuptake yof yglucose yby ythe ycells. yCells yuse yglucose yto yproduce yenergy y(ATP). y
In ya ynormal yindividual, ywhen yblood yglucose yincreases, ythe ypancreas yis ysignaled yto yproduced yin
yinsulin, ywhich ybinds yto yinsulin yreceptors yon ya ycells ysurface yand yinitiates ythe yuptake yof yglucose. y
Glucose yis ya yvery yreactive ymolecule yand yif yleft yin ythe yblood, yit ycan ystart yto ybind yto yother
yproteins yand ylipids, ywhich ycan ylead yto yloss yof yfunction. y
GRADED A+
, AGEs yare yadvanced yglycation yend yproducts ythat yare ya yresult yof yglucose yreacting ywith ythe
yendothelial ylining, ywhich ycan ylead yto ydamage yin ythe yheart yand ykidneys.
Compare yand ycontrast yType yI yand yType yII yDiabetes y y y( ycorrect yanswers y) y yType yI ydiabetes yis
ycaused yby ylack yof yinsulin. yWith yout yinsulin ysignaling, yglucose ywill ynot ybe ytaken yinto ythe ycell yand
yleads yto yhigh yblood yglucose y(hyperglycemia). yType yI yis yusually ytreated ywith yinsulin yinjections. y
Type yII ydiabetes yis ycaused yby ya ydesensitization yto yinsulin ysignaling. yThe yinsulin yreceptors yare yno
ylonger yresponding y to yinsulin, ywhich yalso yleads yto y hyperglycemia. y
Type yII yis yusually ytreated ywith ydrugs yto yincrease ythe ysensitization yto yinsulin y(metformin), ydietary
yand ylife-style ychanges yor yinsulin yinjections.
Describe ysome yreasons yfor ya ypatient yneeding ydialysis y y y( ycorrect yanswers y) y yAEIOU-acidosis.
yElectrolytes, yIntoxication/Ingestion, yoverload, yuremia. yPatients ywith ykidney yor yheart yfailure. y
A ybuild yup yof yphosphates, yurea yand ymagnesium yare yremoved yfrom ythe yblood yusing ya ysemi-
permeable ymembrane yand ydialysate. y
AEIOU: y
A—acidosis; y
E—electrolytes yprincipally yhyperkalemia; y
I—ingestions yor yoverdose yof ymedications/drugs; y
O—overload yof yfluid ycausing yheart yfailure; y
U—uremia yleading yto yencephalitis/pericarditis
Compare yand ycontrast yhemodialysis yand yperitoneal ydialysis. y
What yare ysome yreasons yfor ya ypatient ychoosing yone yover ythe yother? y y y( ycorrect yanswers y) y
yHemodialysis yuses ya ymachine yto ypump yblood yfrom ythe ybody yin yone ytube ywhile ydialysate y(made
GRADED A+
