Lipids are a diverse group of compounds and serve many different functions. At a cellular level, phospholipids and cholesterol are some of the primary components of the membranes that separate a cell from its environment. Lipid-derived hormones, known as steroid hormones, are important chemical messengers and include testosterone and estrogens. At an organismal level triglycerides stored in adipose cells serve as energy-storage depots and also provide thermal insulation.
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