Cholesterol is a steroid which a plays an important role in meatbolism. It is mainly found in the spinal cord and it makes up 10% of the dry matter in the brain. A quarter of a kilogram of cholesterol is present in the average adult human body!
Cholesterol that has been synthesised by the liver has 2 possible uses.
Cholesterol can be used as a precursor by testis, ovaries or the adrenal gland to make steroid hormones. It is also a precursor to vitamin D.
There are 5 groups of steroid hormones that can be synthesised from cholesterol.
All of these molecules have a 4 ring fused structure and all have very similar structures given the difference in physiological effects.