noun

melatonin

melatonin

Melatonin helps regulate sleep cycles.

Melatonin helps regulate sleep cycles.

The body produces melatonin in darkness.

The body produces melatonin in darkness.

melatonin used as a subject or object. Melatonin helps regulate sleep cycles.

Synonyms: none (specific hormone); Related concepts: sleep hormone, circadian rhythm

From Greek 'melas' (black, dark) + 'tonos' (tone), related to serotonin. It's the hormone that sets the 'tone' for the body in the 'dark'.

Remember 'mela-' means dark. Melatonin is the hormone your body makes in the dark to help you sleep.

This page is designed for learning support. Please use it as a learning reference, not as a formal reference.