Question

What compounds are derived from cholesterol?

Answer 1

Hint: On hydrolysis of simple or compound lipids we obtain derived lipids or fats. Simple lipids contain fatty acids of different alcohols and no other substance. Whereas compound lipids have other chemical compounds also attached to them.

Complete answer:
Cholesterol is a sterol which is a type of lipid. Lipids are organic molecules. It is an essential component of all animal cells and is biosynthesized by all animal cells. Major cholesterol-containing foods are red meat, egg yolks, etc. Cholesterol is derived from fat and lipids. Lipids are fat-like molecules that circulate in our bloodstream and are also present in the tissues.
Cholesterol has a chemical formula of $ {C_{27}}{H_{46}}O $ and appears as a white crystalline powder. The two important classes of molecules are derived from cholesterol invertebrates, they are bile acids and steroid hormones.
Bile Acids: Bile acids are detergents that emulsify fats during digestion. They are derived from cholesterol by addition of a Hydroxyl group into the ring B and C and shorten the acyl side chain of ring D. These detergents are secreted by the liver to the gallbladder, where they are stored initially before being released to the small intestine through the bile duct. After the completion of the emulsifying action, they are returned to the liver by reabsorption through the small intestine and reused. This cyclic process is called enterohepatic circulation. The fraction that is lost in this process is excreted through the feces, which is the major excretory route for cholesterol.
Steroid Hormones: Though they consume very little cholesterol in the body they have important physiological purposes. The five major classes that are derived from cholesterol are:
Progestins (hormones active during pregnancy), glucocorticoids (synthesis of glucose and suppression of inflammations), estrogens (female sex hormone), androgens (male sex hormones). Except for only progesterone, all these are related closely biologically and have a commonly shortened chain in ring D, or an oxidized OH group on ring A.
Apart from these Vitamin $ {D_2} $ is also an important derivative of Cholesterol .

Note:
As cholesterol is a type of fatty acid, excess cholesterol in the body may lead to deposition of it on the walls of the blood vessels, making it difficult for the blood to flow smoothly. When these deposits break suddenly, it leads to clotting leading to major heart attacks or strokes.