Definition

A type of steroid hormone produced by the adrenal glands that helps regulate metabolism and has anti-inflammatory effects.

Example

Doctors often prescribe glucocorticoids to reduce inflammation in patients with autoimmune diseases.

Conversation

I heard that glucocorticoids can really help with inflammation.

Yeah, they can be quite effective for that, especially in arthritis.

It's interesting how they work on metabolism too, right?

Exactly! They play a big role in how our body processes nutrients.

Synonyms & Antonyms

Root Explanation

Glucocorticoid → It is formed from "gluco-" (from Greek "glukus", meaning sweet) and "cortico-" (from Latin "cortex", meaning bark or outer layer) and "-oid" (meaning resembling). The term refers to a class of steroid hormones that are produced in the adrenal cortex and are involved in glucose metabolism, hence the reference to sweetness.

Memory Tip

Think of 'sweet' ('gluco-') hormones that are produced in the 'outer layer' ('cortico-') of the adrenal glands, which helps you remember that glucocorticoids are hormones related to glucose metabolism.

Visually Confused Words