Final answer:
Steroid hormones are lipid hormones that are made of lipids, and they have structural similarities with cholesterol. They can diffuse across the plasma membrane of target cells and influence gene expression in the nucleus.
Step-by-step explanation:
Steroid hormones are a type of lipid hormone that are made of lipids, such as phospholipids and cholesterol. They are fat soluble and can diffuse across the plasma membrane of target cells. Once inside the cell, they bind with receptors in the cytoplasm and form a complex that moves into the nucleus, where they influence gene expression.
Examples of steroid hormones include cortisol and sex hormones. Steroid hormones have structural similarities with cholesterol and are derived from it. They are insoluble in water and are transported in blood by transport proteins. They have a longer half-life in circulation compared to peptide hormones.