Body clocks outside the brain in mammals

Circadian rhythms are governed by a biological clock that operates autonomously in nearly all cells of the body.

• The suprachiasmatic nuclei (SCN) acts as a 'master clock' coordinating other 'slave' clocks in peripheral tissues.
• Peripheral clocks have distinct mechanisms compared to the SCN, influencing their respective functions.
• Peripheral tissues can be synchronized to the SCN and environmental cues through various mechanisms.
• Peripheral oscillators are involved in regulating circadian physiology in different cells and tissues.

Simplified