Skip to main content

Peripheral Clocks

Meaning

Peripheral clocks are self-sustaining, molecular timekeeping mechanisms present in nearly every cell and organ throughout the body, operating autonomously from the central master clock located in the suprachiasmatic nucleus (SCN) of the hypothalamus. These cellular oscillators regulate local, tissue-specific physiological functions, such as liver metabolism, pancreatic insulin secretion, and muscle repair, on an approximately 24-hour cycle. The synchronization of these peripheral clocks with the SCN and with each other is crucial for systemic health and metabolic efficiency.