What exactly are Steroids?
In: Biology
Steroids are a class of hormones/signalling molecules derived from Cholesterol. Many human hormones are steroids and they are produced by our bodies but may also be taken as medication.
Corticosteroids – Steroid hormones produced by the adrenal cortex (the outermost layer of the glands that sit above the kidneys). They are subdivided in Mineralocorticoids (mainly Aldosterone), which regulate blood pressure by coordinating the kidneys; and Glucocorticoids (mainly Cortisol), which mediate the physiologic response to stressors by suppressing inflammation and releasing glucose in the blood. Some very powerful anti-inflammatory drugs mimic the actions of Cortisol.
Sexual hormones – Testosterone, Estrogens, Progesterone are all steroids with slight differences in their molecular structures. They stimulate the development of sexual characteristics and regulate the menstrual cycle in women.
ELI5: Steroids are a type of hormone made by our bodies from Cholesterol. They serve various purposes such as blood pressure control, cell fuel production, anti-inflammatory and sexual.
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