Suprachiasmatic nucleus facts for kids

The suprachiasmatic nucleus (SCN) is a tiny part of your brain. It's found in the middle of your brain, in an area called the hypothalamus. You can find it right above where your eye nerves cross over.

Think of the SCN as your body's main "clock." It helps control your daily rhythms, like when you feel sleepy or awake. It does this by sending out special chemicals called hormones and electrical signals through your nerves. The SCN is made of about 20,000 tiny cells. These cells work together to keep your body on a regular schedule.

The SCN gets important information about light and darkness directly from your eyes. This helps it know if it's day or night, so it can adjust your body's clock to the real 24-hour day. This way, your body knows when to get ready for sleep, when to wake up, when to be active, and even when to feel hungry!

Images for kids

• 

  This picture shows how light and dark affect your body's daily rhythms through the SCN.

• 

  This image shows the special genes and proteins that help the SCN work like a clock in mammals.

See also

In Spanish: Núcleo supraquiasmático para niños