WGU D236 – Pathophysiology Final
Exam Study Guide | 100% Correct
Answers | Verified 2025 Update
A client receives a phone call from her gynecologist's office Medic and is informed that her Pap
test results identified mild dysplasia. The best explanation for the Medic to provide would be:
a. "Minor degrees of dysplasia are associated with chronic irritation or inflammation.
However, we will need to do additional diagnostic studies to confirm the diagnosis."
b. "You definitely have cancer."
c. "Do not be concerned; this is not abnormal."
d. "You need emergency treatment; please come in to the office today." - Answer: a
The Medic is educating about the importance of improving the metabolic process in a client
who has morbid obesity and is beginning a weight loss program with exercise. What should the
Medic inform the client about the importance of improving the metabolic rate?
a. Increasing metabolism improves the process by which cells engulf materials from their
surroundings to improve electrolyte function.
b. Increasing metabolism will allow the client to be able to eat whatever foods he wants as
long as he is exercising.
c. Increasing metabolism improves the secretion of intracellular substances into the extracellular
spaces.
d. Increasing metabolism will improve the breakdown of carbohydrates, fats, and proteins to
provide energy for cell function. - Answer: d
A client has been exercising his arms repeatedly. Which statement by the Medic explains the
increase in the size of the arms?
a. "Your cells have atrophied in response to increased oxygen."
b. "Your cells have hypertrophied in response to increased workload."
c. "You have increased your number of cells due to increased oxygenation."
,d. "You have caused the cells to clump together in response to exercise." - Answer: b
What can the Medic tell family members to best explain muscle atrophy of a family member
who has been in a persistent coma?
a. "Cell size has increased in response to immobility."
b. "Cells hypertrophy in response to disuse."
c. "Cell size decreases as workload declines."
d. "Cells need more oxygen the longer they are immobile." - Answer: c
Which statement would a Medic tell a client to best describe apoptosis?
a. "Apoptosis describes increase in number of cells."
b. "Apoptosis occurs in irreversibly damaged cells."
c. "Apoptosis is an increase in the size of cells."
d. "Apoptosis is the natural removal of injured or worn out cells." - Answer: d
The student Medic is removing sutures on client after abdominal surgery, and the wound begins
to pull apart. The student asks the instructor, "Did I do something wrong?" The instructor
reviews wound healing and replies:
a. "Maybe the wound edges were not close enough together to allow epithelialization of the
wound to occur."
b. "Maybe the client was 'picking' at the wound and caused the edges to not be well-approximated."
c. "Maybe you were a little rough when you pulled out the sutures."
d. "Maybe the sutures were left in too long and impeded healing." - Answer: a
Following hip replacement surgery, the client has had many weeks of physical therapy. Upon
assessing
the wound, it is still red and draining thick, green, odoriferous secretions. The client has limited
range-of- motion and is constantly reporting pain. The physician explains that the hip device
needs to be removed. Why is removal required?
,a. A fragment of bone may be rubbing at the insertion site of the joint and keeping it inflamed.
b. The body considers the hip replacement device a foreign body and an infection has
developed around the joint.
c. The device is impeding the supply of nutrients and oxygen to reach the inflamed area.
d. No amount of antibiotic therapy will be able to reach the area around the new joint
and kill the infection. - Answer: b
A Medic is assessing a client for the classic signs of acute inflammation. The Medic would assess
the client for:
a. Cyanosis, heat, and swelling
b. Paresthesias, redness, and coolness
c. Pain, pulselessness, and edema
d. Rubor, swelling, and pain - Answer: d
During a review session discussing cells, a student asks, "What do you call it when a cell
becomes more specialized in terms of structure?" Which response answers the question
correctly?
a. Cell proliferation
b. Matrix
c. Mitosis
d. Cell differentiation - Answer: d
A client with pneumonia is admitted with these vital signs: temperature 99.7ºF (37.6°F), pulse
80 beats/min, respirations 18/minute, and BP 120/80 mm Hg. Which set of vital signs does the
Medic anticipate when the client begins to shiver and requests another blanket several hours
later?
a. T 98.4ºF (36.9°C), P 82/min, R 16/min, BP 106/70 mm Hg
b. T 100.9ºF (38.3°C), P 90/min, R 20/min, BP 126/80 mm Hg
, c. T 99.7ºF (37.6°C), P 86/min, R 18/min, BP 130/82 mm Hg
Exam Study Guide | 100% Correct
Answers | Verified 2025 Update
A client receives a phone call from her gynecologist's office Medic and is informed that her Pap
test results identified mild dysplasia. The best explanation for the Medic to provide would be:
a. "Minor degrees of dysplasia are associated with chronic irritation or inflammation.
However, we will need to do additional diagnostic studies to confirm the diagnosis."
b. "You definitely have cancer."
c. "Do not be concerned; this is not abnormal."
d. "You need emergency treatment; please come in to the office today." - Answer: a
The Medic is educating about the importance of improving the metabolic process in a client
who has morbid obesity and is beginning a weight loss program with exercise. What should the
Medic inform the client about the importance of improving the metabolic rate?
a. Increasing metabolism improves the process by which cells engulf materials from their
surroundings to improve electrolyte function.
b. Increasing metabolism will allow the client to be able to eat whatever foods he wants as
long as he is exercising.
c. Increasing metabolism improves the secretion of intracellular substances into the extracellular
spaces.
d. Increasing metabolism will improve the breakdown of carbohydrates, fats, and proteins to
provide energy for cell function. - Answer: d
A client has been exercising his arms repeatedly. Which statement by the Medic explains the
increase in the size of the arms?
a. "Your cells have atrophied in response to increased oxygen."
b. "Your cells have hypertrophied in response to increased workload."
c. "You have increased your number of cells due to increased oxygenation."
,d. "You have caused the cells to clump together in response to exercise." - Answer: b
What can the Medic tell family members to best explain muscle atrophy of a family member
who has been in a persistent coma?
a. "Cell size has increased in response to immobility."
b. "Cells hypertrophy in response to disuse."
c. "Cell size decreases as workload declines."
d. "Cells need more oxygen the longer they are immobile." - Answer: c
Which statement would a Medic tell a client to best describe apoptosis?
a. "Apoptosis describes increase in number of cells."
b. "Apoptosis occurs in irreversibly damaged cells."
c. "Apoptosis is an increase in the size of cells."
d. "Apoptosis is the natural removal of injured or worn out cells." - Answer: d
The student Medic is removing sutures on client after abdominal surgery, and the wound begins
to pull apart. The student asks the instructor, "Did I do something wrong?" The instructor
reviews wound healing and replies:
a. "Maybe the wound edges were not close enough together to allow epithelialization of the
wound to occur."
b. "Maybe the client was 'picking' at the wound and caused the edges to not be well-approximated."
c. "Maybe you were a little rough when you pulled out the sutures."
d. "Maybe the sutures were left in too long and impeded healing." - Answer: a
Following hip replacement surgery, the client has had many weeks of physical therapy. Upon
assessing
the wound, it is still red and draining thick, green, odoriferous secretions. The client has limited
range-of- motion and is constantly reporting pain. The physician explains that the hip device
needs to be removed. Why is removal required?
,a. A fragment of bone may be rubbing at the insertion site of the joint and keeping it inflamed.
b. The body considers the hip replacement device a foreign body and an infection has
developed around the joint.
c. The device is impeding the supply of nutrients and oxygen to reach the inflamed area.
d. No amount of antibiotic therapy will be able to reach the area around the new joint
and kill the infection. - Answer: b
A Medic is assessing a client for the classic signs of acute inflammation. The Medic would assess
the client for:
a. Cyanosis, heat, and swelling
b. Paresthesias, redness, and coolness
c. Pain, pulselessness, and edema
d. Rubor, swelling, and pain - Answer: d
During a review session discussing cells, a student asks, "What do you call it when a cell
becomes more specialized in terms of structure?" Which response answers the question
correctly?
a. Cell proliferation
b. Matrix
c. Mitosis
d. Cell differentiation - Answer: d
A client with pneumonia is admitted with these vital signs: temperature 99.7ºF (37.6°F), pulse
80 beats/min, respirations 18/minute, and BP 120/80 mm Hg. Which set of vital signs does the
Medic anticipate when the client begins to shiver and requests another blanket several hours
later?
a. T 98.4ºF (36.9°C), P 82/min, R 16/min, BP 106/70 mm Hg
b. T 100.9ºF (38.3°C), P 90/min, R 20/min, BP 126/80 mm Hg
, c. T 99.7ºF (37.6°C), P 86/min, R 18/min, BP 130/82 mm Hg
