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steroid
Any of a group of lipids derived from a saturated compound called cyclopentanoperhydrophenanthrene. Steroids have a basic molecular structure of 15 carbon atoms arranged in four rings and bounded by up to 28 hydrogen atoms. Among the most important steroid derivatives are the steroid alcohols, or sterols, such as cholesterol. Other steroids include the bile acids, which aid digestion of fats in the intestine; the sex hormones (androgens and estrogens); and the corticosteroid hormones, produced by the adrenal cortex. Vitamin D is also based on the steroid structure. Synthetic steroids are widely used in medicine.
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• BIOCHEMISTRY
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