When he did so, the apple became stuck in his throat. Today, the term Adam's apple is a nod to this story, although some say that the term could be from a mistranslation of Hebrew text that talked about the larynx.
As children, most people do not have a noticeable Adam's apple, but during puberty, the larynx grows. This causes changes in the voice that both men and women experience.
Although the growth happens in both sexes, it is more significant in biological men, which is why men are more likely than women to have a visible Adam's apple. The larynx is made up of nine different areas of cartilage. The largest of these is called the thyroid cartilage.
As the larynx grows during puberty, the thyroid cartilage needs space to expand, so it pushes forward. That's what gives the visible bump on the throats of many men. The Adam's apple bump itself has no purpose. But the larynx , which causes the Adam's apple, is an important organ that helps people breathe, swallow, and speak. The larynx is so critical for speech that it is informally known as the voice box.
Within the larynx are two sets of vocal cords, which are bands of muscle that allow humans to produce sound. When you want to make a sound, the vocal cords close, forcing air to pass over them, creating vibrations and therefore sounds. The larynx is important for more than just speech, however. It's critical in helping you swallow effectively, keeping food from entering your lungs. When you swallow, the muscles in the larynx help close the epiglottis, a flap of cartilage that keeps food from entering your lungs.
Both men and women have a larynx, but women are less likely to have a noticeable bump in their throat, known as an Adam's apple. In fact, having an Adam's apple is so closely associated with the male sex that it's considered a secondary sex characteristic, just like having facial hair or having a deep voice. However, some women also have a visible Adam's apple.
There are reasons for the biological difference between males and females in the likelihood of having a visible Adam's apple. The growth of the larynx is caused by testosterone , a male sex hormone. Vocal cord paralysis occurs when one or both vocal cords cannot move. It is often the result of nerve damage, and it can cause various complications….
Throat clearing is a normal response to irritation. However, frequent throat clearing can be a symptom of an underlying condition. Learn more here. What to know about the Adam's apple. Medically reviewed by Alana Biggers, M. What is it? Why do they develop? Difference in males and females? Surgery and removal Can it be a sign of another condition?
Scientists identify new cause of vascular injury in type 2 diabetes. Adolescent depression: Could school screening help? Related Coverage. What you need to know about laryngitis. It's no big deal either way. But why is it called an Adam's apple? If you think it's called that after the story of the Garden of Eden where Adam ate a piece of the forbidden fruit that got stuck in his throat, you're right. An Adam's apple sometimes looks like a small, rounded apple just under the skin in the front of the throat.
This larger larynx also gives boys deeper voices. Actually, girls' voices get a little bit deeper as their larynxes get larger, too. But because boys' larynxes grow so much more, it makes their voices deeper than girls' voices. The larynx doesn't grow to its new size overnight, though. If you've ever heard a teenage boy's voice sound squeaky , you've heard a larynx trying to get adjusted to its new size!
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