Biological clock
Biological clock
The Biological clock (pronunciation: /baɪəˈlɒdʒɪkəl klɒk/) is an innate mechanism that controls the physiological activities of an organism which change predictably throughout the day. These activities include sleep-wake cycles, hormone production, cell regeneration, and other biological processes.
Etymology
The term "Biological clock" is derived from the Greek words "bios" meaning life and "logos" meaning study. The term "clock" is used metaphorically, relating to the predictable, cyclic nature of these processes.
Related Terms
- Circadian rhythm: The physical, mental, and behavioral changes in an organism that follow a roughly 24-hour cycle, responding primarily to light and darkness in an organism's environment.
- Chronobiology: The field of biology that examines periodic (cyclic) phenomena in living organisms and their adaptation to solar- and lunar-related rhythms.
- Melatonin: A hormone that regulates sleep-wake cycles. It is primarily released by the Pineal gland.
- Suprachiasmatic nucleus (SCN): A tiny region of the brain in the hypothalamus, situated directly above the optic chiasm. It is responsible for controlling circadian rhythms.
- Jet lag: A physiological condition that results from alterations to the body's circadian rhythms caused by rapid long-distance trans-meridian (east–west or west–east) travel.
See also
External links
- Medical encyclopedia article on Biological clock
- Wikipedia's article - Biological clock
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