suprachiasmatic nucleus (SCh)

The term suprachiasmatic nucleus refers to a group of cells in the anterior hypothalamic region of the hypothalamus, which is demonstrated by Nissl stain in the human ( Saper-2012 ), macaque ( Paxinos-2009a ), rat ( Swanson-2004 ) and mouse ( Dong-2004 ).It is located in the wall of the third ventricle at the base of the optic recess and dorsal to the optic chiasm. Least prominent in the human ( Saper-2012 ), it is divided into the shell of the suprachiasmatic nucleus and the core of the suprachiasmatic nucleus. It is distinct from the suprachiasmatic preoptic nucleus, which lies rostral to it in the rat ( Swanson-2004 ) and the mouse ( Dong-2004 ). Functionally, as part of the behavioral state system ( Swanson-2004 ), it is involved in the maintenance of circadian rhythms ( Saper-2012 ).

Also known as: suprachiasmatic nucleus, Nucleus suprachiasmaticus hypothalami, suprachiasmatic nucleus of hypothalamus, suprachiasmatic nucleus (Spiegel-Zwieg)

NeuroNames ID: 384

All Names & Sources

Showing 12 synonym(s)

Name:

SCH

Language:

acronym

Organism:

mouse

Source:

Hof-2000

Citation:

Elsevier, Amsterdam, 2000

Source Title:

Comparative Cytoarchitectonic Atlas of the C57BL/6 and 129/Sv Mouse Brains

Name:

suprachiasmatic nucleus

Language:

English

Organism:

human

Citation:

Baltimore: Williams and Wilkins Co., 1983

Source Title:

Human Neuroanatomy

Name:

suprachiasmatic nucleus

Language:

English

Organism:

Macaca fascicularis

Source:

Martin-1997

Citation:

Primate Information Center, University of Washington, Seattle, 1997.

Source Title:

Template Atlas of the Primate Brain

Name:

suprachiasmatic nucleus

Language:

English

Organism:

rat

Source:

Bowden-1997

Citation:

Source Title:

A digital Rosetta stone for primate brain terminology

Name:

Nucleus suprachiasmaticus hypothalami

Language:

Latin

Organism:

human

Source:

Riley-1943

Citation:

Baltimore: Williams and Wilkins Co., 1943

Source Title:

An Atlas Of The Basal Ganglia, Brain Stem And Spinal Cord (Based On Myelin-Stained Material)

Name:

Nucleus suprachiasmaticus hypothalami

Language:

Latin

Organism:

Macaca fascicularis

Source:

Shantha-1968

Citation:

Baltimore: Williams and Wilkins, 1968

Source Title:

A Stereotaxic Atlas Of The Java Monkey Brain (Macaca irus)

Name:

suprachiasmatic nucleus of hypothalamus

Language:

English

Organism:

human

Citation:

Baltimore: Williams and Wilkins Co., 1983

Source Title:

Human Neuroanatomy

Name:

nucleo soprachiasmatico

Language:

Italian

Organism:

human

Citation:

EdiSes, s.r.l.- Napoli, 1995

Source Title:

Fondamenti di Neuroanatomia

Name:

suprachiasmatic nucleus (Spiegel-Zwieg)

Language:

English

Organism:

rat

Source:

Swanson-1998

Citation:

Second Revised Edition, Elsevier Science, Amsterdam, 1998

Source Title:

Brain Maps: Structure of the Rat Brain

Name:

SCh

Language:

acronym

Organism:

human

Source:

Mai-1997

Citation:

San Diego: Academic Press, 1997

Source Title:

Atlas of the Human Brain

Name:

SCH

Language:

acronym

Organism:

rat

Source:

Swanson-2004

Citation:

Third Edition, Elsevier Academic Press, Oxford, 2004

Source Title:

Brain Maps: Structure of the Rat Brain.

Name:

SCh

Language:

acronym

Organism:

Macaca mulatta

Citation:

Amsterdam: Elsevier-Academic Press. 2009

Source Title:

The Rhesus Monkey Brain, Second Edition

Species With The Structure
Equivalent By Human Macaque Rat Mouse
Topology Has The Structure Has The Structure Has The Structure Relevant Data Not Located

Showing 7 record(s)

Basis:

Topology

Has Equivalent:

Yes

Their Name:

Nucleus suprachiasmaticus hypothalami

Source:

Riley-1943

Basis:

Topology

Has Equivalent:

Yes

Their Name:

suprachiasmatic nucleus

Basis:

Topology

Has Equivalent:

Yes

Their Name:

suprachiasmatic nucleus of hypothalamus

Basis:

Topology

Has Equivalent:

Yes

Their Name:

Nucleus suprachiasmaticus hypothalami

Source:

Shantha-1968

Basis:

Topology

Has Equivalent:

Yes

Their Name:

suprachiasmatic nucleus

Source:

Martin-1997

Basis:

Topology

Has Equivalent:

Yes

Organism:

Rattus (rat)

Their Name:

suprachiasmatic nucleus

Source:

Bowden-1997

Basis:

Topology

Has Equivalent:

Yes

Organism:

Rattus (rat)

Their Name:

suprachiasmatic nucleus (Spiegel-Zwieg)

Source:

Swanson-1998

Models Where It Appears
Structural CNS Model - Macaque

Brain structures of the macaque are illustrated in BrainInfo’s NeuroMaps macaque brain atlas. Structures are grouped by proximity in a hierarchy corresponding to the central nervous system hierarchy of NeuroNames ( Bowden-1995 Martin-2000 ). Structures in the NeuroMaps atlas are based on the segmentation of an MRI of the brain of a 3-year old male rhesus macaque (Macaca mulatta). The atlas is most useful for targeting structures for implantating electrodes and chemtrodes. Updated 29 Oct 2025.

Functional CNS Model - Rat

The Functional CNS Model - Rat (FMrat) ( Swanson-2004) is one of three hierarchical models representing the internal organization of the central nervous system (CNS). The others are the Structural CNS Model - Human (SThmn) and the Functional CNS Model - Human (FMhmn). The FMrat model represents the basic organization of the mouse ( Hof-2000 AMBA-2024 ) and, presumably, other rodents. Functional CNS models differ from structural models in that structures are defined and named by connectivity rather than by proximity to other structures at the same level. Functional models are more useful for representing longitudinal components of are grouped based on information drawn from multiple neuroscientific disciplines. such as connections, neurochemical characteristics, and role in physiogical and behavioral processes. While the Functional Model was developed primarily for an atlas of the rat brain ( Swanson-2004 ), the hierarchical organization of structures is for the most part applicable to the human, macaque, mouse and other mammalian brains as well. Structures at lower levels of the Functional CNS hierarchy are largely the same as in the Classical and Developmental Models, i.e., they were originally identified by stains for gray matter (Nissl substance) and white matter (myelin). At the next higher level they are grouped into basic connectional and functional systems of the CNS, such as the subcortical sensory systems, the brainstem motor system and the behavioral state system. At the highest levels CNS structures are grouped on the basis of dissection and embryologic precursors into cerebrum ( cerebral cortex and cerebral nuclei ), cerebellum, and cerebrospinal trunk.