Adolescents go through a lot of bodily changes throughout puberty. These alterations include laryngeal growth (voice box). The front of the thyroid cartilage that surrounds the larynx protrudes outward in men, forming a characteristic known as the "Adam's apple."
This natural physical trait gets its name from the biblical account of Adam and Eve in the Garden of Eden. According to legend, Adam ate a forbidden fruit from the apple tree, and a piece of it became lodged in his throat. This is the origin of the term "Adam's apple."
WHAT IS THE STRUCTURE OF THE ADAM'S APPLE?
The thyroid cartilage makes up the Adam's apple. The same tissue that makes up your nose, ears, and windpipe is cartilage (i.e., trachea). The voice box and windpipe include many types of cartilage that work together to keep your airways open and allow you to talk. Among these cartilages are:
- Thyroid cartilage: This cartilage is the biggest of the bunch. It is the Adam's apple, which surrounds the front of the voice box and windpipe. It safeguards the entire front of the neck.
- Cricoid cartilage: This ring-shaped cartilage is located towards the bottom of the neck. It is the only cartilage that fully surrounds the windpipe.
- Epiglottic cartilage: This cartilage is one of the most vital because it permits air to enter the lungs. It is flap-shaped and situated directly behind the thyroid cartilage. Every time you eat, the epiglottic cartilage prevents food from entering the airway.
- Arytenoid cartilage: This cartilage has a significant impact on how you talk. It is linked to the vocal folds and aids in the movement of the vocal cords.
- Corniculate cartilage: This cartilage is responsible for keeping the arytenoid cartilage in place.
- Cuneiform cartilage: The epiglottis cartilage and vocal folds are supported by this cartilage.
The thyroid cartilage is related to the cricoid cartilage and wraps around the front of your windpipe above your thyroid gland. The movement of these cartilages allows you to alter the pitch of your voice.
The term "thyroid cartilage" is derived from the Greek word thyreos, which meaning "oval shield." The quantity of thyroid cartilage you have has no bearing on how well your thyroid functions.
IS IT POSSIBLE FOR WOMEN TO DEVELOP AN ADAM'S APPLE?
Boys' larynxes get bigger during puberty. This causes their voices to become deeper with time, and it can cause an Adam's apple, a protrusion at the front of the neck.
During puberty, girls' voice boxes alter as well. Because girls do not have as much laryngeal development as males, most women do not have Adam's apples. Some women with bigger larynxes do, although this just reflects the size of the voice box. A bigger larynx in some women may be produced by a rise in testosterone, which is also responsible for other bodily changes such as body hair.
WHAT DETERMINES THE SIZE OF THE ADAM'S APPLE?
The size of the Adam's apple is a secondary sexual feature, which means it differs depending on whether you are male or female throughout puberty. It is often bigger and more apparent in men due to a larger voice box than in women. During puberty, men acquire a bigger voice box than women. As a result, having a bigger Adam's apple may be associated with having a deep voice.
In general, the size of your Adam's apple is determined by excess hormones, primarily testosterone, released throughout adolescence. A woman's Adam's apple may be bigger if she has high amounts of testosterone, especially during adolescence. The growth of the Adam's apple is sometimes accompanied by additional symptoms such as an increase in acne and body hair, as well as a deeper voice.
The angle at which your Adam's apple is placed around the voice box usually determines how prominent it is. Because women have a broader angle, their Adam's apple sits flat against the voice box, resulting in a less visible Adam's apple.
WHEN DOES THE ADAM'S APPLE APPEAR?
During puberty, an Adam's apple forms. Girls and boys have comparable larynx diameters before this time. When a child reaches puberty, the larynx expands and acquires cartilage to protect the voice chords. As a result, your voice naturally becomes deeper. The larynx develops more rapidly in boys than in girls.
Cartilage is formed of connective tissue with no blood vessels. The protrusion on the front of the thyroid cartilage is known as the Adam's apple. The thyroid gland is near the base of your neck. It is in charge of metabolic operations throughout your body. Having excess thyroid cartilage, on the other hand, has no effect on thyroid function. Above the thyroid gland lies the thyroid cartilage.
An Adam's apple, like other bodily modifications, does not appear overnight. If you notice changes in your voice, such as squeakiness, it might be because your larynx is adapting to the growing process.
WHY DO SOME PEOPLE'S ADAM'S APPLE APPEAR BIGGER THAN OTHERS?
Some people's Adam's apples are bigger than others. This is due to the fact that some people acquire more cartilage around their vocal cords or have a bigger voice box. People with larger Adam's apples have deeper voices than those with smaller ones. As a result, women's voices are frequently less deep than men's. However, an Adam's apple does not cause you to speak more clearly or loudly than usual.
An Adam's apple is not a medical concern and will not harm your health.
IS IT POSSIBLE TO SURGICALLY MODIFY THE SIZE OF YOUR ADAM'S APPLE?
The presence (or absence) of an Adam's apple is determined by your individual genetic makeup. Even so, there are surgical alternatives for changing your Adam's apple, whether you wish to augment it or decrease it completely.
When a candidate wants more stereotypically masculine facial characteristics, Adam's apple augmentation is commonly used in face masculinization surgery. To get the Adam's apple effect, cartilage is placed on top of the thyroid cartilage. This is a major form of plastic surgery that may or may not be reimbursed by insurance. It is mostly utilized in those who have gender dysphoria.
Recovery after surgery may take many weeks. Consult your doctor about the advantages and disadvantages of Adam's apple augmentation.
There is also chondrolaryngoplasty surgery available to eliminate an Adam's apple. The extra thyroid cartilage is removed during this operation. Adam's apple reduction is a major surgery that takes time to recover from. Rare side effects include decreased vocal capacity and subsequent vocal alterations.
CONCLUSION
An Adam's apple is simply the name for the portion of thyroid cartilage that protrudes from the front of the neck. It is more common in men during puberty due to increased laryngeal development, although it can also occur in women. If you want to treat an Adam's apple (or lack thereof) medically, talk to your doctor about your alternatives.