corticosteroid

corticosteroid

n. any of the steroid hormones produced by the adrenal cortex, the outer layer of the adrenal gland. They include the glucocorticoids (e.g., cortisol), which are involved in carbohydrate metabolism; and the mineralocorticoids (e.g., aldosterone), which have a role in electrolyte balance and sodium retention. Also called adrenocorticoid.