WGU D115 – Advanced Pathophysiology Exam Bank
1. Which of the following best explains the role of the sodium-potassium pump in
maintaining cellular homeostasis?
A) It passively allows sodium to enter and potassium to exit the cell.
B) It uses diffusion to balance electrolyte gradients across membranes.
✅ C) It actively pumps 3 sodium ions out and 2 potassium ions in, maintaining electrochemical
gradients and cell excitability.
D) It works only during cell injury and apoptosis.
2. Which pathophysiological mechanism primarily underlies cellular hypoxia?
A) Decreased ATP production from glycolysis.
✅ B) Reduced oxygen delivery or utilization leading to mitochondrial oxidative
phosphorylation failure.
C) Excessive anaerobic metabolism without oxygen involvement.
D) Uncontrolled protein synthesis in mitochondria.
3. In the inflammatory process, which cytokine is considered the primary
mediator of fever?
A) IL-2.
B) IL-8.
✅ C) IL-1 (particularly IL-1β).
D) Interferon-γ.
4. Which compensatory mechanism occurs during metabolic acidosis?
A) Decreased renal excretion of hydrogen ions.
✅ B) Hyperventilation leading to decreased CO₂ and increased pH.
C) Decreased bicarbonate reabsorption.
D) Hypoventilation and CO₂ retention.
,5. Which of the following changes is characteristic of cellular adaptation due to
chronic irritation, such as in a smoker's airway epithelium?
A) Atrophy.
B) Dysplasia.
✅ C) Metaplasia – replacement of columnar cells with squamous epithelium.
D) Hyperplasia.
6. In heart failure, activation of the renin-angiotensin-aldosterone system
(RAAS) results in which primary physiological effect?
A) Decreased vascular resistance and sodium excretion.
✅ B) Increased vasoconstriction and sodium/water retention.
C) Reduced cardiac preload and afterload.
D) Enhanced parasympathetic stimulation.
7. Which of the following findings is most indicative of left-sided heart failure?
A) Peripheral edema and hepatomegaly.
✅ B) Pulmonary congestion and dyspnea.
C) Jugular vein distension.
D) Ascites and weight gain.
8. Which best describes the pathophysiology of type I hypersensitivity reactions?
A) T-cell mediated tissue destruction.
✅ B) IgE antibody binding to mast cells, causing histamine release upon allergen exposure.
C) Complement activation and immune complex deposition.
D) Delayed T-helper cell response.
9. Which electrolyte imbalance is most commonly associated with renal failure?
A) Hypokalemia.
B) Hypocalcemia and hypophosphatemia.
✅ C) Hyperkalemia and hyperphosphatemia due to decreased excretion.
D) Hyponatremia only.
,10. Which of the following best explains compensated respiratory acidosis?
A) Low CO₂ and low HCO₃⁻.
B) High CO₂ and high pH.
✅ C) High CO₂ with renal retention of HCO₃⁻ to normalize pH.
D) Low CO₂ and high pH.
11. Which process is primarily responsible for the development of
atherosclerosis?
A) Acute bacterial infection in the endothelium.
✅ B) Endothelial injury leading to LDL oxidation, foam cell formation, and plaque buildup.
C) Autoimmune destruction of vascular tissue.
D) Decreased HDL transport in the liver.
12. Which cellular event occurs during ischemia-reperfusion injury?
A) Immediate restoration of ATP and reduced oxidative stress.
B) Decreased formation of free radicals.
✅ C) Formation of reactive oxygen species (ROS) and mitochondrial damage upon oxygen
reentry.
D) Stabilization of membrane integrity.
13. Which of the following is the primary pathophysiological change in COPD?
A) Increased surfactant production.
✅ B) Chronic inflammation leading to airway remodeling and destruction of alveolar walls
(emphysema).
C) Increased elastic recoil of the lung.
D) Reduced mucus secretion.
14. Which hormone increases blood glucose levels by stimulating gluconeogenesis
and glycogenolysis?
, A) Insulin.
B) ADH.
✅ C) Glucagon.
D) Calcitonin.
15. Which acid-base abnormality is expected in a patient with uncontrolled
diabetes mellitus and ketoacidosis?
A) Respiratory alkalosis.
✅ B) Metabolic acidosis with low bicarbonate.
C) Metabolic alkalosis with high bicarbonate.
D) Respiratory acidosis.
16. Which of the following best explains RAAS activation in hypotension?
A) Vasodilation to reduce afterload.
✅ B) Increased renin release → angiotensin II → aldosterone → increased blood pressure via
sodium retention and vasoconstriction.
C) Direct increase of parasympathetic tone.
D) Inhibition of thirst centers.
17. Which of the following is characteristic of chronic kidney disease (CKD)?
A) Decreased serum creatinine.
B) Increased erythropoietin production.
✅ C) Persistent elevation of BUN and creatinine due to loss of nephron function.
D) Hyperfiltration with increased GFR.
18. Which immunoglobulin is primarily involved in secondary immune responses
and provides long-term immunity?
A) IgE.
B) IgA.
✅ C) IgG.
D) IgM.
1. Which of the following best explains the role of the sodium-potassium pump in
maintaining cellular homeostasis?
A) It passively allows sodium to enter and potassium to exit the cell.
B) It uses diffusion to balance electrolyte gradients across membranes.
✅ C) It actively pumps 3 sodium ions out and 2 potassium ions in, maintaining electrochemical
gradients and cell excitability.
D) It works only during cell injury and apoptosis.
2. Which pathophysiological mechanism primarily underlies cellular hypoxia?
A) Decreased ATP production from glycolysis.
✅ B) Reduced oxygen delivery or utilization leading to mitochondrial oxidative
phosphorylation failure.
C) Excessive anaerobic metabolism without oxygen involvement.
D) Uncontrolled protein synthesis in mitochondria.
3. In the inflammatory process, which cytokine is considered the primary
mediator of fever?
A) IL-2.
B) IL-8.
✅ C) IL-1 (particularly IL-1β).
D) Interferon-γ.
4. Which compensatory mechanism occurs during metabolic acidosis?
A) Decreased renal excretion of hydrogen ions.
✅ B) Hyperventilation leading to decreased CO₂ and increased pH.
C) Decreased bicarbonate reabsorption.
D) Hypoventilation and CO₂ retention.
,5. Which of the following changes is characteristic of cellular adaptation due to
chronic irritation, such as in a smoker's airway epithelium?
A) Atrophy.
B) Dysplasia.
✅ C) Metaplasia – replacement of columnar cells with squamous epithelium.
D) Hyperplasia.
6. In heart failure, activation of the renin-angiotensin-aldosterone system
(RAAS) results in which primary physiological effect?
A) Decreased vascular resistance and sodium excretion.
✅ B) Increased vasoconstriction and sodium/water retention.
C) Reduced cardiac preload and afterload.
D) Enhanced parasympathetic stimulation.
7. Which of the following findings is most indicative of left-sided heart failure?
A) Peripheral edema and hepatomegaly.
✅ B) Pulmonary congestion and dyspnea.
C) Jugular vein distension.
D) Ascites and weight gain.
8. Which best describes the pathophysiology of type I hypersensitivity reactions?
A) T-cell mediated tissue destruction.
✅ B) IgE antibody binding to mast cells, causing histamine release upon allergen exposure.
C) Complement activation and immune complex deposition.
D) Delayed T-helper cell response.
9. Which electrolyte imbalance is most commonly associated with renal failure?
A) Hypokalemia.
B) Hypocalcemia and hypophosphatemia.
✅ C) Hyperkalemia and hyperphosphatemia due to decreased excretion.
D) Hyponatremia only.
,10. Which of the following best explains compensated respiratory acidosis?
A) Low CO₂ and low HCO₃⁻.
B) High CO₂ and high pH.
✅ C) High CO₂ with renal retention of HCO₃⁻ to normalize pH.
D) Low CO₂ and high pH.
11. Which process is primarily responsible for the development of
atherosclerosis?
A) Acute bacterial infection in the endothelium.
✅ B) Endothelial injury leading to LDL oxidation, foam cell formation, and plaque buildup.
C) Autoimmune destruction of vascular tissue.
D) Decreased HDL transport in the liver.
12. Which cellular event occurs during ischemia-reperfusion injury?
A) Immediate restoration of ATP and reduced oxidative stress.
B) Decreased formation of free radicals.
✅ C) Formation of reactive oxygen species (ROS) and mitochondrial damage upon oxygen
reentry.
D) Stabilization of membrane integrity.
13. Which of the following is the primary pathophysiological change in COPD?
A) Increased surfactant production.
✅ B) Chronic inflammation leading to airway remodeling and destruction of alveolar walls
(emphysema).
C) Increased elastic recoil of the lung.
D) Reduced mucus secretion.
14. Which hormone increases blood glucose levels by stimulating gluconeogenesis
and glycogenolysis?
, A) Insulin.
B) ADH.
✅ C) Glucagon.
D) Calcitonin.
15. Which acid-base abnormality is expected in a patient with uncontrolled
diabetes mellitus and ketoacidosis?
A) Respiratory alkalosis.
✅ B) Metabolic acidosis with low bicarbonate.
C) Metabolic alkalosis with high bicarbonate.
D) Respiratory acidosis.
16. Which of the following best explains RAAS activation in hypotension?
A) Vasodilation to reduce afterload.
✅ B) Increased renin release → angiotensin II → aldosterone → increased blood pressure via
sodium retention and vasoconstriction.
C) Direct increase of parasympathetic tone.
D) Inhibition of thirst centers.
17. Which of the following is characteristic of chronic kidney disease (CKD)?
A) Decreased serum creatinine.
B) Increased erythropoietin production.
✅ C) Persistent elevation of BUN and creatinine due to loss of nephron function.
D) Hyperfiltration with increased GFR.
18. Which immunoglobulin is primarily involved in secondary immune responses
and provides long-term immunity?
A) IgE.
B) IgA.
✅ C) IgG.
D) IgM.
