Corticosteroids
The steroids secreted by the adrenal cortex are divided into three groups according to their principal activity:
- corticosteroids also called glucocorticosteroids like cortisol, which act primarily on carbohydrate and protein metabolism
- mineralocorticoids, aldosterone, which acts on fluid and electrolytes metabolism
- androgens.
The term corticoid indicates both corticosteroids (glucocorticoids) and mineralocorticoids .
Corticosteroids include cortisol also called hydrocortisone, the endogenous hormone, and several synthetic derivatives.
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