False-colour scanning electron micrograph (SEM) of crystals of pure anhydrous cholesterol precipitat- ed from ethanol. Cholesterol is a sterol, a waxy

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False-colour scanning electron micrograph (SEM) of crystals of pure anhydrous cholesterol precipitat- ed from ethanol. Cholesterol is a sterol, a waxy, fatlike material synthesised by all animal cells. It is an essential constitutent of the cell membrane, a precursor to the formation of sex hormones and the source of bile salts. A third of body cholesterol is produced in the liver. Its excretion, directly or as bile salts, is the sole responsiblitiy of the liver. Body cholesterol is added to by dietary cholesterol, high levels are associated with atheroma, furring of the arteries, & coronary heart disease, but the relationship is unclear. Magnification: X230 at 35mm size.

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Size: 3526px × 5064px
Photo credit: © DR JEREMY BURGESS/SCIENCE PHOTO LIBRARY / Alamy / Afripics
License: Licensed
Model Released: No

Keywords: atheroma, bile, chemical, chemistry, cholesterol, compound, compounds, coronary, crystal, crystals, disease, fatty, heart, plaque, sem, sterol