biological clock
Body's innate timekeeper
The biological clock is the body's internal mechanism regulating cycles of sleep, hunger, hormone release, and other physiological processes.
More colloquially, biological clock refers to the finite window for having children, especially for women: Her biological clock is ticking.
The phrase often carries pressure about fertility and age.
Recurring unconscious repose
- wakefulnessState of being conscious
- melatoninCircadian rhythm regulator
- jetlagFatigue from crossing timezones
- chronotypeInnate daily rhythm preference
entrainment · insomnia · pineal · hypothalamus · nocturnal · diurnal · light · darkness
Gradual functional decline with age
- telomeresProtective chromosome termini
- longevityDuration of existence
- collagenStructural body protein
- wrinklesSurface lines from folding
menopause · andropause · osteoporosis · cognitive decline · mitochondria · antioxidants · degeneration · lifespan
Egg discharge from ovary
- conceptionFormation of an idea
- reproductionCopying or procreation
- pregnancyCarrying developing offspring
- menstruationMonthly uterine bleeding
hormones · estrogen · progesterone · fertile window · egg freezing · sperm count · embryo · gestation
Repeated back-and-forth movement
- periodicityRecurring at regular intervals
- sleep cyclesStages of nightly rest
- cell cycleReplication process of cells
- homeostasisBiological internal stability maintenance
heartbeat · pulse · respiration · body temperature · seasonal rhythms · lunar cycles · synchronization · pacemaker
sleep
Recurring unconscious repose
- wakefulnessState of being conscious
- melatoninCircadian rhythm regulator
- jetlagFatigue from crossing timezones
chronotype · entrainment · insomnia · pineal · hypothalamus · nocturnal · diurnal · light · darkness · drowsiness
senescence
Gradual functional decline with age
wrinkles · menopause · andropause · osteoporosis · cognitive decline · mitochondria · antioxidants · degeneration · lifespan · gerontology
ovulation
Egg discharge from ovary
- conceptionFormation of an idea
- reproductionCopying or procreation
- pregnancyCarrying developing offspring
menstruation · hormones · estrogen · progesterone · fertile window · egg freezing · sperm count · embryo · gestation · infertility
oscillation
Repeated back-and-forth movement
- periodicityRecurring at regular intervals
- sleep cyclesStages of nightly rest
- cell cycleReplication process of cells
homeostasis · heartbeat · pulse · respiration · body temperature · seasonal rhythms · lunar cycles · synchronization · pacemaker · feedback loop
- agingaging process, aging body, aging workforce, aging parents, old age
- biorhythmscircadian rhythm, circadian rhythms, sleep cycles, sleep-wake cycle, melatonin
- gender humorgender stereotypes, husband jokes, wife jokes, dating humor, mansplaining
- photobiologyphotoreceptor, photoreceptors, photosynthesis, phototropism, photoreception
- sleepsleep, sleeping, nap, doze, slumber
- body systemscirculatory system, digestive system, endocrine system, immune system, muscular system
biological clockwristwatch
Portable timekeeping accessory
mechanical clock · digital clock · atomic clock · stopwatch · alarm clock
biological clockreproductive freedom
egg freezing · IVF · assisted reproduction · adoption · reproductive autonomy
biological clockwork schedule
Planned job hours
shift work · time zones · daylight saving time · societal expectations
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