circadian rhythms

Examples of circadian rhythms in the following topics:

• 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.

• 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.

• 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.

• Seasonal Affective Disorder and Jet Lag

  • When traveling across a number of time zones, the body clock will be out of synchronization with the destination time, as it experiences daylight and darkness contrary to the rhythms to which it has grown accustomed: the body's natural pattern is upset, as the rhythms that dictate times for eating, sleeping, hormone regulation and body temperature variations no longer correspond to the environment nor to each other in some cases.
  • To the degree that the body cannot immediately realign these rhythms, it is jet lagged.
  • Bright light therapy is a treatment for SAD and circadian rhythm disorders.

• 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.

• Hypothalamus

  • The hypothalamus coordinates many hormonal and behavioral circadian rhythms, complex patterns of neuroendocrine outputs, complex homeostatic mechanisms, and important behaviors.

• Uterus

  • Depending on the species and attributes of physical and psychological health, weight, environmental factors of circadian rhythm, photoperiodism (the physiological reaction of organisms to the length of day or night), the effect of menstrual cycles to the reproductive function of the uterus is subject to hormone production, cell regeneration, and other biological activities.

• Homeostatic Control

  • The most important example is the hypothalamus, a region of the brain that controls everything from body temperature to heart rate, blood pressure, satiety (fullness), and circadian rhythms (sleep and wake cycles).

• Sensory Modalities

  • One particular component, the suprachiasmatic nucleus , is responsible for the circadian (daily) rhythm, while other cell clusters appear capable of shorter-range (ultradian) timekeeping.

• Arrhythmia

  • A slow rhythm (less than 60 beats/min), is labeled bradycardia.
  • Arrhythmias arising at the junction: Supraventricular tachycardia (SVT), Junctional rhythm, and Junctional tachycardia.
  • Rhythm originating at or above AV node constitutes supraventricular tachycardia (SVT).
  • Schematic diagram of normal sinus rhythm for a human heart as seen on ECG.
  • It is typically not a stable rhythm, and frequently degenerates into atrial fibrillation (AF).