1944, from cortico-, combining form of corticoid, + steroid. So called because they are produced in the adrenal cortex. Related: Corticosterone.
Entries linking to corticosteroid
corticoid n.
"steroid isolated from the adrenal cortex," 1941, from cortico-, combining form of Latin cortex (genitive corticis) "bark of a tree," in modern anatomy applied to enveloping parts or surfaces (see corium).
steroid n.
naturally occuring substance based on a carbon skeleton similar to that of sterol molecules, 1936, from sterol + -oid "resembling." Related: Steroids.