Circadian
Circadian
Circadian (pronunciation: /sɜːrˈkeɪdiən/) is a term that originates from the Latin words "circa" meaning "around" and "diem" meaning "day". It refers to the physical, mental, and behavioral changes that follow a daily cycle, typically in a 24-hour period.
Etymology
The term "Circadian" was first used in the 1950s and is derived from the Latin words "circa" (around) and "diem" (day). This term is used to describe the biological processes that occur naturally and repeat roughly every 24 hours.
Related Terms
- Circadian Rhythm: This is the natural, internal process that regulates the sleep-wake cycle and repeats roughly every 24 hours. It can refer to any biological process that displays an endogenous, entrainable oscillation of about 24 hours.
- Chronobiology: This is a field of biology that examines periodic (cyclic) phenomena in living organisms and their adaptation to solar- and lunar-related rhythms. These cycles are known as biological rhythms.
- Biological Clock: This is an organism's innate timing device. It's composed of specific molecules (proteins) that interact in cells throughout the body. Biological clocks are found in nearly every tissue and organ, and we have "master clocks" in our brains.
- Jet Lag: This is 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 on high-speed aircraft.
- Shift Work Sleep Disorder: This is a circadian rhythm sleep disorder characterized by insomnia, excessive sleepiness, or both, due to shift work.
See Also
External links
- Medical encyclopedia article on Circadian
- Wikipedia's article - Circadian
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