Final answer:
The statement 'Steroid hormones cannot pass through cell membranes,' is incorrect regarding non-polar hormones since they can diffuse through plasma membranes due to their lipid solubility.
Step-by-step explanation:
The statement, 'Steroid hormones cannot pass through cell membranes,' is not true about non-polar hormones. Steroid hormones are typically lipid-soluble and can diffuse through the plasma membrane of cells, given that they are non-polar molecules. They directly affect the target cell by entering the cell and acting on DNA. On the other hand, peptide hormones and amino acid-derived hormones are water-soluble and cannot pass through the plasma membrane. Instead, they bind to receptors on the cell's surface, triggering a signaling pathway that results in the activation of specific cellular functions.
Another point to clarify involves thyroid hormone, which, although it is an amino acid-derived hormone, is lipid-soluble. Thus, it does possess the ability to enter cells much like steroid hormones. The mechanisms by which these hormones exert their effects differ substantially between lipid-soluble and water-soluble hormones.