State function question as it applies to Biology/Physiology

In summary, the conversation discusses the concept of State Functions and whether a person's blood pressure or body temperature can be considered as such. While the definition of a State Function is agreed upon, the issue arises when considering the changes in these variables due to external factors. Further research is suggested to fully understand and recognize State Functions in biological and physiological systems.
  • #1
taimcampos92
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Hi everyone! Hope you all are doing great. I'm currently starting a new course mixed with Chemistry, Biochemistry, and Physics-related to Nurse anesthesia. While reading about State function a question arrived on my team. We all agreed that a State Function "is a property or characteristic of a system that depends only on its current state and not on how it reached that state"; however, can a person's Blood pressure or body temperature can be considered state functions?
 
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  • #2
Welcome to PF. :smile:

Can you give a reference to your source of information on State Functions? Is it referring to biological and physiological systems mainly, or is it a general systems reference?

The issue with BP and body temperature is that they are affected by many things in real time. And it seems like elevated local temperature due to local swelling is different from uniform body temperature. Similarly, low BP due to being in V-tach is different from low BP with a NSR...
 
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  • #3
berkeman said:
Welcome to PF. :smile:

Can you give a reference to your source of information on State Functions? Is it referring to biological and physiological systems mainly, or is it a general systems reference?

The issue with BP and body temperature is that they are affected by many things in real time. And it seems like elevated local temperature due to local swelling is different from uniform body temperature. Similarly, low BP due to being in V-tach is different from low BP with a NSR...
I see, thanks for the quick reply,

Still becomes somehow confusing to me to actually understand and fully recognize it. I'll do a little more research, thank you
 

What is a state function in the context of biology and physiology?

A state function in biology and physiology refers to a property or variable that describes the state of a biological system and is independent of the path taken by the system to reach that state. Examples include temperature, pressure, volume, and chemical composition. These functions are crucial for understanding how biological processes adhere to laws of thermodynamics.

How does the concept of state functions apply to energy changes in biological systems?

In biological systems, energy changes (such as in metabolic pathways) can be understood through state functions like enthalpy and Gibbs free energy. These functions help predict the direction and spontaneity of biochemical reactions, as they are dependent only on the initial and final states of the reaction, not on the intermediate steps.

Can entropy be considered a state function in physiological processes?

Yes, entropy is considered a state function in physiological processes. It measures the disorder or randomness in a system and changes in entropy can indicate transformations within biological systems, such as during the folding of proteins or the binding of ligands to enzymes.

Why is understanding state functions important in the study of homeostasis?

Understanding state functions is crucial in the study of homeostasis because these functions allow scientists to describe how physiological systems maintain stability and equilibrium. By analyzing variables like temperature and pH that are state functions, researchers can better understand how organisms regulate their internal environments despite external changes.

How do state functions assist in modeling physiological phenomena?

State functions assist in modeling physiological phenomena by providing a framework to quantify and predict the behavior of biological systems under different conditions. For instance, using state functions like volume and pressure, researchers can model respiratory mechanics or cardiovascular dynamics, which are essential for understanding and treating various medical conditions.

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