Circadian rhythm

High school (ages 12+)
Human Body

Name:

Date:

Step 1 · Read the article

Open the article and read it at the level above. Then answer the questions below in your own words.

https://smallwhale.org/articles/circadian-rhythm

Write what each word means, using the article.

Do not copy the article. Write two things you learned, the way you would explain them to a friend.

Answers below are taken from the article’s stored facts, so they match what the student read.

1. What is the master clock location?Suprachiasmatic nucleus (SCN) in the hypothalamus
2. What is the primary entraining signal?Light, detected via the retinohypothalamic tract
3. How does light help our body clock?Light from the sun enters our eyes and tells the master clock in the brain to stay in sync with day and night, keeping our internal schedule on track.
4. Why is it important to keep our circadian rhythm aligned?When our rhythm stays in sync, we stay healthy and feel good; if it gets out of sync, it can lead to problems like weight gain, heart trouble, or mood changes.

Endogenous Oscillation: A biological rhythm generated from within an organism, not solely by external cues.
Zeitgeber: An external cue, such as light, that helps synchronize an organism's internal clock.
Circadian Misalignment: A state where the internal biological clock is out of sync with the external environment or desired behavior.