Cortisol is a steroid hormone, in the glucocorticoid class of hormones. When used as a medication, it is known as hydrocortisone. It is produced in humans by the zona fasciculata of the adrenal cortex within the adrenal gland. Wikipedia Formula: C21H30O5 Molar mass: 362.46 g/mol CAS ID: 50-23-7 ChEBI ID: 17650 ChemSpider ID: 5551 PubChem CID: 5754 People also search for: Cortisone, Adrenocorticotropic hormone, MORE

What is cortisol? Cortisol is a steroid hormone, one of the glucocorticoids, made in the cortex of the adrenal glands and then released into the blood, which transports it all round the body. Almost every cell contains receptors for cortisol and so cortisol can have lots of different actions depending on which sort of cells it is acting upon. These effects include controlling the body’s blood sugar levels and thus regulating metabolism, acting as an anti-inflammatory, influencing memory formation, controlling salt and water balance, influencing blood pressure and helping development of the foetus. In many species cortisol is also responsible for triggering the processes involved in giving birth. A similar version of this hormone, known as corticosterone, is produced by rodents, birds and reptiles.