Is FSH steroid or hormone

Answer 1

First off, steroids and hormones are not mutually exclusive groups. The term "steroid" reflect a molecule's chemical structure -- all steroids share the same chemical backbone of cholesterol, which is why they are placed in the same group. The term "hormone" refers specifically to the molecule's function. A hormone is any chemical signal that travels via the bloodstream. Its chemical structure can be that of a steroid (hence we often talk about steroid hormones), it can be a protein or small peptide (hence protein and peptide hormones), or it can be in another class altogether (such as the catecholaminergic hormones like adrenaline and noradrenaline).

Follicle-stimulating hormone (FSH) is secreted in the bloodstream by the pituitary gland and signals events to occur in distant target organs; thus FSH is a hormone. However, it is made of many amino acids strung together; thus FSH is a protein. So FSH is a protein hormone.

Hope that helps.