Circadian rhythms are endogenous, biological oscillations that approximate a 24-hour cycle, governing the timing of nearly all physiological and behavioral processes in the human body. These internal clocks regulate vital functions, including the sleep-wake cycle, patterns of hormone secretion, core body temperature, and metabolic efficiency. Maintaining synchronization between these rhythms and the external environment is critical for optimal endocrine and metabolic health.
Origin
The term is derived from the Latin phrase “circa diem,” meaning “about a day,” accurately reflecting the approximately one-day periodicity of these fundamental biological cycles. The field of chronobiology established the existence of a central master clock in the brain that coordinates the timing of peripheral clocks in various organs. This regulatory system is deeply conserved across species.
Mechanism
The suprachiasmatic nucleus (SCN) in the hypothalamus acts as the master pacemaker, receiving light input from the retina to precisely synchronize the body’s rhythms with the light-dark cycle. The SCN subsequently regulates the rhythmic expression of “clock genes” in peripheral tissues, which in turn control the cyclical release of key hormones like cortisol, melatonin, and Growth Hormone. Disruption of this organized system can profoundly impair metabolic and endocrine function.
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