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Corticosteroid
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<p>Corticosteroids are a class of <a href="/facts/Steroid_hormone/WDtHmcTl">steroid hormones</a> that are produced in the <a href="/facts/Adrenal_cortex/t4EkJgdy">adrenal cortex</a> of <a href="/facts/Vertebrates/tT54FSTT">vertebrates</a>, as well as the synthetic analogues of these hormones. Two main classes of corticosteroids, <a href="/facts/Glucocorticoid/2P91Aj3S">glucocorticoids</a> and <a href="/facts/Mineralocorticoid/Ruj1B1Mv">mineralocorticoids</a>, are involved in a wide range of <a href="/facts/Physiology/fh25y2pQ">physiological</a> processes, including <a href="/facts/Stress_(medicine)/H29jPp2B">stress response</a>, <a href="/facts/Immune_system/HRCTf1pb">immune response</a>, and regulation of <a href="/facts/Inflammation/Ura86MIy">inflammation</a>, <a href="/facts/Carbohydrate/Geuuzxsf">carbohydrate</a> <a href="/facts/Metabolism/WxDrm8k5">metabolism</a>, <a href="/facts/Protein/Jxmagu3E">protein</a> <a href="/facts/Catabolism/CFWUdphX">catabolism</a>, blood <a href="/facts/Electrolyte/4YE8bIVa">electrolyte</a> levels, and behavior. </p><p>Some common naturally occurring steroid hormones are <a href="/facts/Cortisol/5IvRV0cm">cortisol</a> (C21H30O5), <a href="/facts/Corticosterone/rcMoEu7f">corticosterone</a> (C21H30O4), <a href="/facts/Cortisone/z5GUmvNG">cortisone</a> (C21H28O5) and <a href="/facts/Aldosterone/tjw4dr1u">aldosterone</a> (C21H28O5) (cortisone and <a href="/facts/Aldosterone/tjw4dr1u">aldosterone</a> are <a href="/facts/Isomers/PXlvDVdg">isomers</a>). The main corticosteroids produced by the adrenal cortex are cortisol and aldosterone. </p><p>The etymology of the <i>cortico-</i> part of the name refers to the <a href="/facts/Adrenal_cortex/t4EkJgdy">adrenal cortex</a>, which makes these steroid hormones. Thus a corticosteroid is a "cortex steroid". </p>