Final answer:
The smooth and rough endoplasmic reticulum are the cellular structures responsible for steroid hormone synthesis, detoxification, glucose release, and calcium ion sequestration, with the SER synthesizing steroids and detoxifying chemicals, and the RER involved in protein synthesis.
Step-by-step explanation:
The cellular structures involved in the synthesis of steroid hormones, detoxification, glucose release, and calcium ion sequestration are the smooth endoplasmic reticulum (SER) and the rough endoplasmic reticulum (RER). The RER, characterized by its surface studded with ribosomes, is primarily involved in protein synthesis. It engages in protein modification and phospholipid synthesis. The SER, which has few or no ribosomes on its cytoplasmic surface, is essential for the synthesis of carbohydrates, lipids, and steroid hormones; it also plays a key role in detoxifying chemicals such as pesticides, preservatives, medications, and environmental pollutants, and stores calcium ions necessary for various cellular processes.
Steroid hormones are derived from cholesterol and can diffuse directly across the plasma membrane due to their small and hydrophobic nature. Once inside, they interact with internal receptors to regulate transcription, which in turn influences gene expression and cellular activity.