Skip to main content

Diurnal Cortisol Patterning

Meaning

The characteristic, time-dependent shape of the cortisol secretion curve across a full 24-hour cycle, encompassing the sharp morning peak, the steady afternoon decline, and the pronounced nighttime nadir. Patterning refers to the specific, measurable trajectory and amplitude of these dynamic changes, which are considered far more clinically significant than any single point measurement. Deviations from the expected pattern, such as a flattened or inverted curve, serve as reliable indicators of hypothalamic-pituitary-adrenal (HPA) axis dysregulation.