Final answer:
Corticosteroids are hormones produced by the adrenal cortex that include mineralocorticoids, glucocorticoids, and androgens. Glucocorticoids such as cortisol are essential for stress responses and metabolic regulation. Their production is regulated by ACTH from the pituitary gland.
Step-by-step explanation:
Corticosteroids mimic or replace the adrenal glands' steroids that are normally produced by the body. These include mineralocorticoids, glucocorticoids, and androgens. The adrenal cortex is responsible for the production of these hormones, which contain the cyclo-pentano-per-hydro-phenanthrene ring structure.
Furthermore, glucocorticoids like cortisol are produced in the zona fasciculata of the adrenal cortex, and they are pivotal in the body's response to stress. They regulate metabolism, increase blood glucose and fatty acid levels, and suppress the immune system. Conditions such as Cushing's disease and Addison's disease are related to the hypersecretion and hyposecretion of these hormones, respectively. Steroid hormone production is under the regulation of the anterior lobe of the pituitary gland through hormones like adrenocorticotropic hormone (ACTH), which stimulates the transport of cholesterol into the mitochondria where it is converted into steroid hormones.