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17

Meaning

In the precise language of steroid endocrinology, the number ’17’ refers to the specific carbon atom position on the standardized four-ring steroid nucleus, a site of paramount importance for hormone synthesis and function. This carbon atom is where the critical enzyme 17-alpha-hydroxylase/17,20-lyase acts, governing the pathway from progestins to androgens and ultimately to estrogens. The chemical modifications occurring at this position are essential for determining a steroid’s classification and its resulting biological activity. It is a vital structural landmark in the entire steroidogenesis cascade.