WGU D027 FINAL EXAM 2024-2025/ D027
OBJECTIVE ASSESSMENT EXAM/ COMPLETE
400 EXAM QUESTIONS AND CORRECT
DETAILED ANSWERS (VERIFIED ANSWERS)
GRADED A+
What effect does atherosclerosis have on the development of an aneurysm? - Correct
Answer - Erodes the vessel wall -
Atherosclerosis, also known as the process of "hardening of the arteries" and secondary
to plaque formation, weakens the flexibility of a blood vessel wall. Without vascular
compliance, the vessel wall becomes more rigid and susceptible to rupture (i.e., an
aneurysm).
What is the effect of oxidized low-density lipoproteins (LDLs) in atherosclerosis? -
Correct Answer - LDLs cause smooth muscle proliferation -
Within the arterial wall subintima, oxidized LDLs stimulate macrophage foam cell
formation and proinflammatory pathways, which lead to smooth muscle proliferation,
fatty streak creation, and eventual fibrous plaque overlays (McCance, p. 699 & 1072).
Which factor is responsible for the hypertrophy of the myocardium associated with
hypertension? - Correct Answer - Angiotensin II -
Angiotensin II leads to myocardial hypertrophy, poor myocardial compliance, and
ventricular dilation through stimulating increased cardiac preload and afterload and
direct toxicity to myocardial cells. It causes sarcomere death, abnormal collagen
matrices, and interstitial fibrosis (McCance, p. 1099).
Most cardiovascular developments occur between which weeks of gestation? - Correct
Answer - Fourth and seventh weeks -
During weeks four to seven, the primitive heart tube progresses through numerous
stages of development leading to a developed heart with distinct atria, ventricles, and
cardiac vessels.
pg. 1
,Which compensatory mechanism is spontaneously used by children diagnosed with
tetralogy of Fallot (TOF) to relieve hypoxic spells? - Correct Answer - Squatting -
Spontaneous squatting helps relieve hypercyanotic events in older children through
increasing systemic vascular resistance, decreasing venous blood return. This provides
a larger amount of oxygenated blood for the body and leads to the temporary reversal of
blood through the ventricular septal defect (VSD), which results in increased pulmonary
flow. Squatting is rarely seen clinically because most TOF defects are diagnosed and
surgically repaired in infancy (McCance, p. 1127).
Which condition is consistent with the cardiac defect of transposition of the great
vessels? - Correct Answer - The aorta arises from the right ventricle -
In transposition of the great vessels, opposite of a normal heart, the aorta arises from
the right ventricle, and the pulmonary artery arises from the left ventricle.
What produces ADH? - Correct Answer - Posterior pituitary -
The anterior pituitary gland produces a wide variety of hormones such as the
adrenocorticotropic hormone (ACTH), thyroid-stimulating hormone (TSH), luteinizing
hormone (LH), follicle-stimulating hormone (FSH), prolactin (PRL), growth hormone
(GH), and melanocyte-stimulating hormone (MSH). The hypothalamus also produces a
number of hormones such as the thyrotropin-releasing hormone (TRH), growth
hormone-releasing and growth inhibiting hormones (GHRH and GHIH), gonadotropin-
releasing hormone (GnRH), corticotropin-releasing hormone (CRH), and oxytocin. The
posterior pituitary stores oxytocin and the antidiuretic hormone (ADH) from the
hypothalamus for later use. The complex interaction of feedback and influence that the
hypothalamus and pituitary glands have on each other is generally referred to as the
hypothalamus-pituitary axis.
The thyroid gland hormones (T3 and T4) are regulated by __________. - Correct
Answer - TSH -
The thyroid-stimulating hormone directly regulates the release and the resulting levels
of circulating T3 and T4. Growth, adrenocorticotropic, and follicle-stimulating hormones
have no direct effects on the thyroid.
What do the pancreas beta cells produce? - Correct Answer - Insulin -
pg. 2
,The pancreas is a very delicate and complex endo- and exocrine gland comprised of
different cells and structures designed for different functions. The beta cells are
responsible for the endocrinologic function and production of insulin. Alpha cells
produce glucagon while P cells produce pancreatic polypeptide. Lipase is produced by
many different organs of the gastrointestinal (GI) tract, though the pancreas supplies the
main source.
What do high levels of ADH cause? - Correct Answer - SIADH -
The syndrome of inappropriate antidiuretic hormone (SIADH) is characterized by
increasing intravascular volume, decreased urine production, electrolyte disturbances,
etc. It leads to acute medical complications requiring treatment.
Which condition is indicated by a high level of TSH and low T4? - Correct Answer -
Hypothyroidism -
Hypothyroidism is a condition in which there is a dysregulation in the thyroid performing
its normal endocrine functions. The anterior pituitary senses low circulating T4; this
causes a feedback response for additional stimulation resulting in the production of
more thyroid stimulating hormone (TSH), without the expected effects of raising T4.
What diagnosis results if a patient's anterior pituitary produces none of the normal
pituitary hormones? - Correct Answer - Panhypopituitarism -
In panhypopituitarism, all hormones of the anterior pituitary are deficient: ACTH, TSH,
FSH, LH, GH, and prolactin.
Which of the following symptoms is not indicative of metabolic syndrome? - Correct
Answer - Cachexia -
Metabolic syndrome is diagnosed when three of the five metabolic findings are present:
increased waist circumference or central obesity (males > 40 inches, females > 35
inches); triglycerides ≥150 mg/dl; HDL < 40 mg/dl (males) or < 50 mg/dl (females); BP ≥
130/85 mmHg; or fasting BG ≥ 100 mg/dl (McCance, p. 688).
What is occlusion of the capillaries due to diabetes called? - Correct Answer -
Microvascular disease -
pg. 3
, Microvascular disease is primarily due to a long duration (10 or more years) of poorly
controlled DM, leading to capillary occlusion and resultant tissue ischemia (retinal,
renal, and neurological) (McCance, p. 695).
Which of the following is anorexia of aging associated with? - Correct Answer - Poor
dentition, decreased gastric emptying, and the effects of medication -
Anorexia of aging is associated with decreased orexigenic signals, increased
anorexigenic signals, decreased gastric emptying, poor dentition, loneliness, and
functional impairments (McCance, p. 721).
A BMI greater than what indicates obesity? - Correct Answer - 30 kg/m2 -
Underweight is < 18.5 kg/m2. Normal weight is 18.5-24.9 kg/m2. Overweight is 25-29.9
kg/m2. Obesity is ≥ 30 kg/m2. See "About Adult BMI" for more information.
Which term identifies the movement of blood into and out of the capillary beds of the
lungs to body organs and tissues? - Correct Answer - Perfusion -
The actual delivery of blood with oxygen and nutrients around the body is perfusion.
What is the mechanism of defense for the alveolar macrophages? - Correct Answer - To
ingest and remove bacteria from the alveoli by phagocytosis -
Pulmonary cilia are responsible for the entrapment and movement of large, foreign
particles from the air. The action of coughing propels collected particles while alveolar
macrophages work on the microscopic level to eliminate bacteria from lung alveoli.
If an individual aspirates, where would a nurse expect abnormal breath sounds? -
Correct Answer - Right lung -
In the anatomy of the lung, the right bronchus is at more of a vertical angle than the left
main stem bronchus. Therefore, when food or other foreign bodies are inhaled or
aspirated, the more likely path of travel is down towards the right lung, resulting in
abnormal breath sounds in that lobe upon auscultation.
Besides a cough, the most common symptom of pulmonary disease is __________. -
Correct Answer - dyspnea -
pg. 4
