Final answer:
Steroid hormones are derived from cholesterol and include sex and adrenocortical hormones with examples like estradiol, testosterone, aldosterone, and cortisol. They can diffuse across cell membranes due to their lipid-soluble nature and have longer circulation times in the blood.
Step-by-step explanation:
The hormones derived from cholesterol are known as steroid hormones. These include important groups such as sex hormones and adrenocortical hormones. Examples of sex hormones are estradiol and testosterone, which play essential roles in reproductive functions. Adrenocortical hormones, like aldosterone and cortisol, are involved in regulating osmoregulation and metabolism, respectively. Steroid hormones are lipid-soluble and because of their non-polar nature, they can diffuse across cell membranes and are carried in the bloodstream by transport proteins, leading to a longer circulation time compared to peptide hormones.
Steroid hormones exhibit structural similarities with cholesterol, influencing their function and method of transport within the body. Being insoluble in water, these hormones tend to have a relatively longer half-life, such as cortisol, which has a half-life of 60 to 90 minutes. In contrast, amino acid-derived hormones like epinephrine, water-soluble and faster in degradation, have a shorter half-life. The difference in solubility and structure also determines where the receptors for these hormones are located, with steroid hormone receptors often found within the target cell's cytoplasm.