Knowra Cholesterol Cholesterol Cholesterol is a waxy sterol found in animal cell membranes and carried through blood by lipoproteins. It helps regulate membrane properties and serves as a precursor to steroid hormones, bile acids, and vitamin D.
Lipoprotein : A particle that transports water-insoluble lipids, including cholesterol, through blood and other extracellular fluids. Lipoproteins carry cholesterol between the intestine, liver, and peripheral tissues.
Sterol : A steroid lipid with a hydroxyl group, a fused ring structure, and a hydrocarbon side chain. Cholesterol is the principal sterol in animal tissues.
Atherosclerosis : A chronic disease in which plaques containing lipids, inflammatory cells, and fibrous tissue build up in arterial walls. Cholesterol carried in apoB-containing particles contributes to plaque formation when retained in artery walls.
Membrane fluidity : The ease with which lipids and proteins move within a biological membrane. Cholesterol buffers membrane fluidity, limiting phospholipid movement at high temperatures and preventing tight packing at low temperatures.
Triglyceride : A lipid consisting of glycerol esterified to three fatty acids, used chiefly for energy storage. Triglycerides are another blood lipid measured alongside cholesterol, but serve a different primary role.
Low-density lipoprotein : A cholesterol-rich lipoprotein that delivers cholesterol from the blood to cells. LDL is a major route by which circulating cholesterol reaches tissues.
Steroid : A class of lipids built around four fused carbon rings. Cholesterol's ring structure places it among steroids, while its hydroxyl group makes it a sterol.
Lipid profile : A blood test panel measuring cholesterol and triglycerides, often including estimated or measured lipoprotein fractions. Clinicians use lipid profiles to assess cholesterol-related cardiovascular risk.
Steroid hormone : A signaling molecule derived from cholesterol, including cortisol, aldosterone, estrogen, progesterone, and testosterone. Cholesterol is the precursor from which steroid hormone synthesis begins.
Dietary cholesterol : Cholesterol present in foods derived from animals. Dietary cholesterol is distinct from cholesterol made within the body, and its effects on blood levels vary.
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