The steroid hormones are produced by which of the following glands in the human body?
Answer & explanation
Correct answer: option 1
The correct answer is Option (1) → Adrenal cortex, testes and ovaries.
Hormones are chemical messengers made by endocrine glands. By chemical nature they fall into three groups:
Steroids: made from cholesterol, e.g. glucocorticoids and mineralocorticoids (adrenal cortex), testosterone (testes), estradiol and progesterone (ovaries).
Polypeptides: e.g. insulin and glucagon (pancreas), endorphins.
Amino acid derivatives: e.g. epinephrine and norepinephrine (adrenal medulla), thyroxine (thyroid gland).
So steroid hormones are produced by the adrenal cortex, testes and ovaries.
Why the other options are incorrect
Option (2) Testes and ovaries — Incorrect. Testes and ovaries do make steroid hormones (testosterone, estradiol, progesterone), but the adrenal cortex also makes steroids (glucocorticoids, mineralocorticoids), so the list is incomplete.
Option (3) Testes, ovaries and thyroid glands — Incorrect. The thyroid gland produces thyroxine, an iodinated amino acid derivative, not a steroid.
Option (4) Adrenal cortex and thyroid glands — Incorrect. Thyroxine is not a steroid, and the testes and ovaries are missing.
NCERT (2026-27 edition):
Hormones – …
