Chemical Classification of Hormones — NEET Biology
✅ Asked in NEET 2021Which one of the following hormones is a steroid? (NEET 2021)
Which one of the following hormones is a steroid? (NEET 2021)
Answer & NCERT explanation
Correct answer: C — Cortisol
Cortisol is a steroid hormone derived from cholesterol and secreted by adrenal cortex. Steroid hormones are lipid-soluble and can pass through cell membranes to act on intracellular receptors. Insulin and glucagon are protein/peptide hormones, while thyroxine is an amino acid derivative (tyrosine-based). Only cortisol has the characteristic steroid structure with four-ring system.
Read more NCERT concept on the PYQ
On the basis of their chemical nature, hormones can be divided into groups: (i) peptide, polypeptide, protein hormones (e.g., insulin, glucagon, pituitary hormones, hypothalamic hormones, etc.) (ii) steroids (e.g., cortisol, testosterone, estradiol and progesterone) (iii) iodothyronines (thyroid hormones) (iv) amino-acid derivatives (e.g., epinephrine).
NTA tests the chemical nature classification of hormones by asking students to identify which hormone belongs to which category. This paragraph specifically highlights that cortisol, testosterone, estradiol, and progesterone are steroid hormones. Students often confuse steroid hormones with protein hormones (like insulin) because both regulate physiological functions. Remember: steroids are lipid-soluble and derived from cholesterol, while peptide/protein hormones are water-soluble. Cortisol is a glucocorticoid steroid from the adrenal cortex, not a protein hormone—this distinction is crucial for NEET questions testing hormone classification and their mechanisms of action.
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