WGU D236 pathophysiology: Objective
Assessment Questions and Verified
Answers | Latest 2026/2027 GRADED A+
What is Starling's Law of Capillary forces?
How does this explain why a nutritionally deficient child would have edema?
- DDStarling's Law describes how fluids move across the capillary membrane. There are two major
opposing forces that act to balance each other, hydrostatic pressure (pushing water out of the
capillaries) and osmotic pressure (including oncontic pressure, which pushes fluid into the capillaries).
Both electrolytes and proteins (oncontic pressure) in the blood affect osmotic pressure, high
electrolyte and protein concentrations in the blood would cause water to leave the cells and
interstitial space and enter the blood stream to dilute the high concentrations.
On, the other hand, low electrolyte and protein concentrations (as seen in a nutritionally deficient
child) would cause water to leave the capillaries and enter the cells and interstitial fluid which can lead
to edema.
How does the RAAS (Renin-Angiotensin-Aldosterone System) result in increased blood volume and
increased blood pressure?
,WGU D236 pathophysiology OA Exam Study Guide 2026 Questions and Answers
- DDA drop in blood pressure is sensed by the kidneys by low perfusion, which in turn begins to
secrete renin.
Renin then triggers the liver to produce angiotensinogen, which is converted to Angiotensin I in the
lungs and then angiotensin II by the enzyme
Angiotensin-converting enzyme (ACE). Angiotensin II stimulates peripheral arterial vasoconstriction
which raises BP.
Angiotensin II is also stimulating the adrenal gland to release aldosterone, which acts to increase
sodium and water reabsorption increasing blood volume, while also increased potassium secretion in
urine.
How can hyperkalemia lead to cardiac arrest?
- DDNormal levels of potassium are between 3.5 and 5.2 mEq/dL. Hyperkalemia refers topotassium
levels higher that 5.2 mEq/dL.
A major function of potassium is to conduct nerve impulses in muscles. Too low and muscle weakness
occurs and too much can cause muscle spasms.
,WGU D236 pathophysiology OA Exam Study Guide 2026 Questions and Answers
This is especially dangerous in the heart muscle and an irregular heartbeat can cause a heart attack
The body uses the Protein Buffering System, Phosphate Buffering System, and Carbonic Acid-
Bicarbonate System to regulate and maintain homeostatic pH, what is the consequence of a pH
imbalance
- DDProteins contain many acidic and basic group that can be affected by pH changes. Any increase or
decrease in blood pH can alter the structure of the protein (denature), thereby affecting its function as
well
Describe the laboratory findings associated with metabolic acidosis, metabolic alkalosis, respiratory
acidosis and respiratory alkalosis. (ie relative pH and CO2 levels).
- DDNormal ABGs (Arterial Blood Gases) Blood pH: 7.35-7.45 PCO2: 35-45 mm Hg PO2: 90-100 mm Hg
HCO3-: 22-26 mEq/L SaO2: 95-100%
Respiratory acidosis and alkalosis are marked by changes in PCO2. Higher = acidosis and lower =
alkalosis
Metabolic acidosis and alkalosis are caused by something other than abnormal CO2 levels. This could
include toxicity, diabetes, renal failure or excessive GI losses.
, WGU D236 pathophysiology OA Exam Study Guide 2026 Questions and Answers
Here mare mthe mrules mto mfollow mto mdetermine mif mis mrespiratory mor mmetabolic min mnature. m-If mpH mand
PCO2 mare mmoving min mopposite mdirections, mthen mit mis mthe mpCO2 mlevels mthat mare mcausing mthe
m
mimbalance mand mit mis mrespiratory min mnature.
-If mPCO2 mis mnormal mor mis mmoving min mthe msame mdirection mas mthe mpH, mthen mthe mimbalance mis
metabolic min mnature.
m
The manion mgap mis mthe mdifference mbetween mmeasured mcations m(Na+ mand mK+) mand mmeasured manions
(Cl- mand mHCO3-), mthis mcalculation mcan mbe museful min mdetermining mthe mcause mof mmetabolic
m
macidosis.
Why mwould man mincreased manion mgap mbe mobserved min mdiabetic mketoacidosis mor mlactic macidosis?
- DDThe manion mgap mis mthe mcalculation mof munmeasured manions min mthe mblood.
Lactic macid mand mketones mboth mlead mto mthe mproduction mof munmeasured manions, mwhich mremove mHCO3- m(a
mmeasured manion) mdue mto mbuffering mof mthe mexcess mH+ mand mtherefore mleads mto man mincrease min mthe
mAG.
Why mis mit mimportant mto mmaintain ma mhomeostatic mbalance mof mglucose min mthe mblood m(ie mdescribe mthe
mpathogenesis mof mdiabetes)?
- DDInsulin mis mthe mhormone mresponsible mfor minitiating mthe muptake mof mglucose mby mthe mcells.
Assessment Questions and Verified
Answers | Latest 2026/2027 GRADED A+
What is Starling's Law of Capillary forces?
How does this explain why a nutritionally deficient child would have edema?
- DDStarling's Law describes how fluids move across the capillary membrane. There are two major
opposing forces that act to balance each other, hydrostatic pressure (pushing water out of the
capillaries) and osmotic pressure (including oncontic pressure, which pushes fluid into the capillaries).
Both electrolytes and proteins (oncontic pressure) in the blood affect osmotic pressure, high
electrolyte and protein concentrations in the blood would cause water to leave the cells and
interstitial space and enter the blood stream to dilute the high concentrations.
On, the other hand, low electrolyte and protein concentrations (as seen in a nutritionally deficient
child) would cause water to leave the capillaries and enter the cells and interstitial fluid which can lead
to edema.
How does the RAAS (Renin-Angiotensin-Aldosterone System) result in increased blood volume and
increased blood pressure?
,WGU D236 pathophysiology OA Exam Study Guide 2026 Questions and Answers
- DDA drop in blood pressure is sensed by the kidneys by low perfusion, which in turn begins to
secrete renin.
Renin then triggers the liver to produce angiotensinogen, which is converted to Angiotensin I in the
lungs and then angiotensin II by the enzyme
Angiotensin-converting enzyme (ACE). Angiotensin II stimulates peripheral arterial vasoconstriction
which raises BP.
Angiotensin II is also stimulating the adrenal gland to release aldosterone, which acts to increase
sodium and water reabsorption increasing blood volume, while also increased potassium secretion in
urine.
How can hyperkalemia lead to cardiac arrest?
- DDNormal levels of potassium are between 3.5 and 5.2 mEq/dL. Hyperkalemia refers topotassium
levels higher that 5.2 mEq/dL.
A major function of potassium is to conduct nerve impulses in muscles. Too low and muscle weakness
occurs and too much can cause muscle spasms.
,WGU D236 pathophysiology OA Exam Study Guide 2026 Questions and Answers
This is especially dangerous in the heart muscle and an irregular heartbeat can cause a heart attack
The body uses the Protein Buffering System, Phosphate Buffering System, and Carbonic Acid-
Bicarbonate System to regulate and maintain homeostatic pH, what is the consequence of a pH
imbalance
- DDProteins contain many acidic and basic group that can be affected by pH changes. Any increase or
decrease in blood pH can alter the structure of the protein (denature), thereby affecting its function as
well
Describe the laboratory findings associated with metabolic acidosis, metabolic alkalosis, respiratory
acidosis and respiratory alkalosis. (ie relative pH and CO2 levels).
- DDNormal ABGs (Arterial Blood Gases) Blood pH: 7.35-7.45 PCO2: 35-45 mm Hg PO2: 90-100 mm Hg
HCO3-: 22-26 mEq/L SaO2: 95-100%
Respiratory acidosis and alkalosis are marked by changes in PCO2. Higher = acidosis and lower =
alkalosis
Metabolic acidosis and alkalosis are caused by something other than abnormal CO2 levels. This could
include toxicity, diabetes, renal failure or excessive GI losses.
, WGU D236 pathophysiology OA Exam Study Guide 2026 Questions and Answers
Here mare mthe mrules mto mfollow mto mdetermine mif mis mrespiratory mor mmetabolic min mnature. m-If mpH mand
PCO2 mare mmoving min mopposite mdirections, mthen mit mis mthe mpCO2 mlevels mthat mare mcausing mthe
m
mimbalance mand mit mis mrespiratory min mnature.
-If mPCO2 mis mnormal mor mis mmoving min mthe msame mdirection mas mthe mpH, mthen mthe mimbalance mis
metabolic min mnature.
m
The manion mgap mis mthe mdifference mbetween mmeasured mcations m(Na+ mand mK+) mand mmeasured manions
(Cl- mand mHCO3-), mthis mcalculation mcan mbe museful min mdetermining mthe mcause mof mmetabolic
m
macidosis.
Why mwould man mincreased manion mgap mbe mobserved min mdiabetic mketoacidosis mor mlactic macidosis?
- DDThe manion mgap mis mthe mcalculation mof munmeasured manions min mthe mblood.
Lactic macid mand mketones mboth mlead mto mthe mproduction mof munmeasured manions, mwhich mremove mHCO3- m(a
mmeasured manion) mdue mto mbuffering mof mthe mexcess mH+ mand mtherefore mleads mto man mincrease min mthe
mAG.
Why mis mit mimportant mto mmaintain ma mhomeostatic mbalance mof mglucose min mthe mblood m(ie mdescribe mthe
mpathogenesis mof mdiabetes)?
- DDInsulin mis mthe mhormone mresponsible mfor minitiating mthe muptake mof mglucose mby mthe mcells.
