circadian

Physiology

(noun)

Any biological process that displays an endogenous, entrainable oscillation of about 24 hours.

Related Terms

  • utricle
  • saccule
  • ultradian
  • bipolar cell
  • modality
  • thermoreception
  • mechanoreception
Psychology

(adjective)

Of, relating to, or showing rhythmic behavior with a period of 24 hours; especially of a biological process.

Related Terms

  • chronobiology
  • entrainment

Examples of circadian in the following topics:

  • Circadian Rhythms

    • Circadian rhythms are found in most living things, including animals, plants, and many tiny microbes.
    • Circadian rhythms are important in determining human sleep patterns.
    • Circadian rhythms, as we’ve just discussed, are heavily influenced by light.
    • Circadian rhythms have a hand in determining when we are alert and when we become sleepy.
    • Analyze the role that circadian rhythms play in the sleep cycle
  • Visual Processing

    • The SCN is a cluster of cells that is considered to be the body's internal clock, which controls our circadian (day-long) cycle.
    • The presence of light and darkness influences circadian rhythms and related physiology and behavior through the SCN.
  • Functions of the Diencephalon

    • The hypothalamus controls body temperature, hunger, thirst, fatigue, sleep, and circadian cycles.
    • Some functions of its components include the secretion of melatonin by the pineal gland (involved in circadian rhythms) and regulation of motor pathways and emotions.
  • Epithalamus and Pineal Gland

    • Some functions of its components include the secretion of melatonin by the pineal gland (involved in circadian rhythms) and regulation of motor pathways and emotions.
  • The Influence of Genes on Behavior

    • In another example, Seymour Benzer discovered he could breed certain fruit flies with others to create distinct behavioral characteristics and change their circadian rhythms.
  • Schistosomiasis

    • Interestingly, the cercariae are released from the snail host in a circadian rhythm and depend on ambient temperature and light.
  • Catabolic-Anabolic Steady State

    • The balance between anabolism and catabolism is also regulated by circadian rhythms, with processes such as glucose metabolism fluctuating to match an animal's normal periods of activity throughout the day.
  • Lipid-Derived, Amino Acid-Derived, and Peptide Hormones

    • (b) The hormone melatonin, which regulates circadian rhythms, is derived from the amino acid tryptophan.
  • Pineal Gland and Gonads

    • Lastly, melatonin is involved in biological rhythms, particularly circadian rhythms such as the sleep-wake cycle and eating habits .
  • Pituitary Gland Disorders

    • The hypothalamus secretes a number of hormones, often according to a circadian rhythm, into blood vessels that supply the anterior pituitary; most of these are stimulatory (thyrotropin-releasing hormone, corticotropin-releasing hormone, gonadotropin-releasing hormone and growth hormone-releasing hormone), apart from dopamine, which suppresses prolactin production.
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