The structure of the testosterone molecule and its derivatives has been determined by several groups. The data used in this page is from the crystallographic work reported in J. Chem. Soc., Perkin Trans. 2, (1973) p1978. The authors were P.J. Roberts, R.C. Pettersen, G.M. Sheldrick, N.W. Isaacs, and O. Kennard.

• Testosterone is the common name for 17beta-Hydroxandrost-4-en-3-one, or C₁₉H₂₈O₂. Its common name comes from the fact that is is the principal hormone of the testes. It is one of a large class of steroids that are important in the chemistry of the human body (and many other animals). You can compare the structure of testosterone with that of cholesterol, another well-known steroid. The four rings shown in the molecule are common to all steroids, and are found in such molecules as cortisone, progesterone, norethynodrel, and RU-486.

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