What chemical compound is the precursor to all steroid hormones?

Cholesterol is the precursor to all steroid hormones, making it a crucial compound in the biosynthesis of these hormones. Steroid hormones, which include cortisol, testosterone, estrogen, and progesterone, are derived from cholesterol through a series of enzymatic reactions. The structure of cholesterol allows it to be converted into the various steroid hormones, providing the necessary backbone for their formation.

Squalene, while involved in the biosynthetic pathway leading to cholesterol itself, is not directly responsible for the synthesis of steroid hormones. Phospholipids, although essential components of cell membranes, do not serve as precursors for steroid hormone production. Triglycerides function mainly as energy storage molecules and are not involved in steroid hormone synthesis. Therefore, cholesterol distinctly fulfills the role of being the fundamental precursor for all steroid hormones in the body.