Steroid Hormones

Steroid hormones are chemical messengers produced by glands like the adrenal glands and gonads (ovaries and testes). They are derived from cholesterol and travel through the bloodstream to target cells, where they influence processes like growth, metabolism, and reproduction. Examples include cortisol, which helps manage stress and immune responses, and sex hormones like estrogen, progesterone, and testosterone, which regulate sexual development and function. Because they are lipid-soluble, steroid hormones can easily cross cell membranes to bind with specific receptors inside cells, triggering changes in gene expression and activity.