Skip to main content

Cellular Clocks

Meaning

The intrinsic, self-sustaining molecular machinery within nearly every cell of the body that regulates the precise timing of physiological processes over a roughly 24-hour cycle. These peripheral clocks synchronize cellular functions with the master clock in the suprachiasmatic nucleus (SCN) and environmental cues, most notably light exposure. They are fundamental to maintaining circadian rhythm, which profoundly impacts rhythmic hormonal secretion and overall metabolic health.