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 fare fthe frules fto ffollow fto fdetermine fif fis frespiratory for fmetabolic fin fnature. f-If fpH fand
fPCO2 fare fmoving fin fopposite fdirections, fthen fit fis fthe fpCO2 flevels fthat fare fcausing fthe
fimbalance fand fit fis frespiratory fin fnature.
-If fPCO2 fis fnormal for fis fmoving fin fthe fsame fdirection fas fthe fpH, fthen fthe fimbalance fis
fmetabolic fin fnature.
The fanion fgap fis fthe fdifference fbetween fmeasured fcations f(Na+ fand fK+) fand fmeasured
fanions f(Cl- fand fHCO3-), fthis fcalculation fcan fbe fuseful fin fdetermining fthe fcause fof
fmetabolic facidosis.
Why fwould fan fincreased fanion fgap fbe fobserved fin fdiabetic fketoacidosis for flactic facidosis?
- DDThe fanion fgap fis fthe fcalculation fof funmeasured fanions fin fthe fblood.
Lactic facid fand fketones fboth flead fto fthe fproduction fof funmeasured fanions, fwhich fremove fHCO3-
f(a fmeasured fanion) fdue fto fbuffering fof fthe fexcess fH+ fand ftherefore fleads fto fan fincrease fin
fthe fAG.
Why fis fit fimportant fto fmaintain fa fhomeostatic fbalance fof fglucose fin fthe fblood f(ie fdescribe
fthe fpathogenesis fof fdiabetes)?
- DDInsulin fis fthe fhormone fresponsible ffor finitiating fthe fuptake fof fglucose fby fthe fcells.
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 fare fthe frules fto ffollow fto fdetermine fif fis frespiratory for fmetabolic fin fnature. f-If fpH fand
fPCO2 fare fmoving fin fopposite fdirections, fthen fit fis fthe fpCO2 flevels fthat fare fcausing fthe
fimbalance fand fit fis frespiratory fin fnature.
-If fPCO2 fis fnormal for fis fmoving fin fthe fsame fdirection fas fthe fpH, fthen fthe fimbalance fis
fmetabolic fin fnature.
The fanion fgap fis fthe fdifference fbetween fmeasured fcations f(Na+ fand fK+) fand fmeasured
fanions f(Cl- fand fHCO3-), fthis fcalculation fcan fbe fuseful fin fdetermining fthe fcause fof
fmetabolic facidosis.
Why fwould fan fincreased fanion fgap fbe fobserved fin fdiabetic fketoacidosis for flactic facidosis?
- DDThe fanion fgap fis fthe fcalculation fof funmeasured fanions fin fthe fblood.
Lactic facid fand fketones fboth flead fto fthe fproduction fof funmeasured fanions, fwhich fremove fHCO3-
f(a fmeasured fanion) fdue fto fbuffering fof fthe fexcess fH+ fand ftherefore fleads fto fan fincrease fin
fthe fAG.
Why fis fit fimportant fto fmaintain fa fhomeostatic fbalance fof fglucose fin fthe fblood f(ie fdescribe
fthe fpathogenesis fof fdiabetes)?
- DDInsulin fis fthe fhormone fresponsible ffor finitiating fthe fuptake fof fglucose fby fthe fcells.
