Metabolic Errors	

The major pathways of steroid biosynthesis within the human adrenal cortex (see Fig. 7.12) emphasise the crucial dependence upon the availability of specific enzyme systems. Given the vital role which adrenocortical steroids play in human metabolism, it is not surprising that even a partial deficiency in the activity of these enzymes produces serious metabolic disturbance. Clinical syndromes corresponding to deficiencies of each of the enzymes that are involved have been described and are referred to as different forms of congenital adrenal hyperplasia.