The legendary concept of “Adam's apple” - the male Adam's apple - has been reminiscent of the difference in gender characteristics between men and women since ancient times. Following the biblical parable, the first man on Earth, Adam, ate the fruit of paradise, which was forbidden. It was for this heavenly pleasure that Adam was punished: he choked on an apple, and it was stuck in his throat forever in the form of an Adam's apple.

It was according to legend. In anatomy everything is much more concise and practical.

The Adam's apple (scientific name "Prominentia Laryngea") is a cartilaginous formation around the larynx by the plates of the thyroid gland.

The cartilages in males anatomically converge at an acute angle. Therefore, the protrusion of the Adam's apple in men is so much more pronounced than in women and small children. In the fairer sex and small children, the thyroid cartilages are joined together more smoothly, at an obtuse angle.

Are hormones to blame?

The Adam's apple, as a secondary sexual characteristic, has its own characteristic protrusion especially in men. In isolated cases, it can also stand out on a woman’s neck. But this is only if there are more male hormones in a woman’s body than female ones. In fact, the Adam's apple will be present in both sexes. You can detect it in yourself if you make a guttural sound and at the same time feel the place on your neck where the vibration is felt most. There the Adam's apple will be in the larynx.

The function of the Adam's apple in the human body is to protect the vocal cords in the larynx. In addition, it covers the airways while swallowing food and water. Thanks to this, products enter the esophagus and stomach, and people do not choke when eating. The Adam's apple is directly involved in stretching the vocal cords at different voice pitches. By the way, the breaking of voices in young men during the transitional age period is directly related to the elongated vocal cords and the thickening of the Adam’s apple in the larynx.

The cartilage tissue of the Adam's apple is very soft from birth. During the period of puberty of a boy, they begin to thicken. During puberty, a boy's body produces the hormone testosterone. Under its influence, the entire young, developing organism enters a new stage of existence, where all glands and secretions of tissues and organs are actively working.

The compacted “Adam's apple” in the larynx becomes akin to bone, sometimes reaching large sizes. Protruding cartilage on the neck is not aesthetically pleasing to everyone. Many guys have a complex about their large Adam's apple, which is why they want to surgically reduce it. Such operations are called chondrolorhinoplasty. Although Adam's apples are very difficult to change. Some males complain that a large Adam's apple causes them an uncomfortable sore throat.

Why does your Adam's apple hurt?

Can your Adam's apple hurt? Alas, yes. Moreover, the reasons are varied, and they should be voiced.

If your Adam's apple hurts, then you should not put off going to the doctor under any circumstances, because the causes of the pain can be serious and have consequences. If you have such symptoms, you should first consult an ENT doctor and an endocrinologist.

Adam's apple and male sexuality

The male libido is often compared to the large size of the Adam's apple. Some women measure a man's sexuality by the size of his Adam's apple: if a man has a large Adam's apple, it means he's good in bed. It is worth refuting such a popular hypothesis.

The size of the Adam's apple does not depend on the hormonal level of testosterone in the blood of representatives of the stronger sex. Why some men have a large Adam’s apple, while others barely protrude, depends only on the physiology and anatomical structure of the body, which is passed on to each owner of the “Adam’s apple” genetically. And you need to evaluate your chosen one, how passionate he will be in intimate relationships, not by the size of his Adam’s apple, nose and palms, but by the level of testosterone. And it depends on the man’s lifestyle, his age, state of mind and physical health.

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The Adam's apple is a protruding cartilage in the anterior wall of the larynx, consisting of 2 plates. In representatives of the stronger half of humanity, the angle located between the cartilaginous plates is small, so it is noticeable that the Adam’s apple protrudes strongly forward, thereby protecting the throat from various injuries. Many factors in the body of a male person affect the size of the Adam's apple, for example, in children or women the larynx is smooth, and a large Adam's apple in men depends on the physiological and anatomical characteristics of the person, the genetic predisposition of the man.

Many people don’t think about why men need an Adam’s apple; some believe that only males have an Adam’s apple. There are quite a lot of misconceptions on this topic today; the presence of an Adam’s apple is characteristic not only of men; the female sex also has this feature of the larynx.

Why do men have Adam's apple? Why is it needed? It is also called “Adam’s apple” - according to legend, it appeared in Adam when he tried the forbidden apple. A piece of this fruit got stuck in his throat, which is why this feature of the larynx, symbolizing original sin, was subsequently formed in all males. The “Adam's apple” gradually begins to form in boys from the age of 14, but there are also examples when women have a pronounced Adam’s apple.

There are operations to reduce the size of the Adam's apple, for example, chondrolaryngoplasty - usually it is often used by men who decide to change their gender.

A large Adam's apple in men, from an aesthetic point of view, does not suit many representatives of the stronger half of humanity; some men complain of painful sensations in the throat due to large protruding cartilage on the neck - removal of the Adam's apple can solve this problem.

Functionality of the Adam's apple

Why do you need an Adam's apple? It performs important functions in the male body:

• Protective factor - the larynx is a vulnerable part of the human body; various nerve endings, blood vessels, organs of the respiratory system, and digestive tract are located here, which are protected from external influences by thin skin tissues. Therefore, the Adam's apple is a kind of protective device for the throat, it prevents it from being compressed, i.e. suffocation;
• Voice formation - males have a lower and rougher voice than, for example, females. This feature is associated with the process of tension of the ligaments; it is formed during puberty gradually with an increase in the Adam’s apple;
• Preventing saliva from entering the respiratory system.

Adam's apple pathologies

A blow to the Adam's apple can cause negative consequences for men's health, just as injuries can provoke death for a person. When a serious injury occurs, a signal is sent to the brain that activates the syncope reflex - the person falls into an unconscious state, myocardial contractions stop, and cardiac arrest occurs. That’s why it’s so important to prevent injuries in the Adam’s apple area.
Often men develop various pathologies that are associated with pain in the Adam’s apple area:

• Hyperthyroidism is an increased production of hormones in the thyroid gland. This process is characterized by increased sweating, tachycardia, diarrhea, and nervousness;
• Hypothyroidism is decreased production of hormones. Characteristic signs of this phenomenon are constipation, fatigue syndrome, cold intolerance;
• Thyroiditis - this inflammatory process occurs in normal or acute form. The causative agents are infectious phenomena in the respiratory tract. It is characterized by painful attacks in the Adam’s apple area, expansion of the thyroid gland, the occurrence of purulent neoplasms in the larynx;
• Tuberculosis of the larynx, cancerous neoplasms - as the tumor-like neoplasms increase, painful symptoms will appear in the Adam’s apple area, painful attacks are also possible during breathing and swallowing;
• A fracture of the cartilaginous larynx is often the cause of pain. A blow to the Adam's apple can provoke this phenomenon, which will be characterized by difficulty breathing, pain when swallowing or coughing;
• Riedel's chronic fibrous thyroiditis - a distinctive feature of the process is the expansion of connective tissues near the "Adam's apple", the thyroid gland enlarges, which causes pressure on the trachea and esophagus;
• Laryngitis - occurs due to viral infectious phenomena, colds. It is an inflammatory process in the larynx. It is characterized by painful attacks in the Adam's apple area and a dry cough. Swelling of the mucous tissues of the larynx occurs, which causes compression of the throat.

Any patient complaint about pain in the “Adam’s apple” area should be examined in detail by a doctor, with a diagnosis of the disease and clarification of the diagnosis. It is strictly forbidden to self-medicate in this situation.

Surgical methods for changing the Adam's apple

Today, there are surgical methods for modifying the “Adam’s apple”:

• Complete removal of the Adam's apple is performed in situations where the removal of cartilage does not cause negative consequences for men's health. Subsequently, it provokes a change in vocal timbre. But these changes are irreversible - increasing cartilage after removal has already been done will be an impossible process;
• Partial removal - performed by a doctor if the possibility of complete removal of the Adam's apple is not possible. During the operation, the surgeon changes the angle of the cartilage plates, i.e. changes the position of the Adam's apple from a male type to a female form, as in the photo. The surgical intervention performed is less traumatic, but not always, taking into account various circumstances, it leads to a modification of the male voice.

Any method of surgical intervention in the area of ​​the Adam's apple, removal of the Adam's apple must be performed after a thorough examination in the hospital. How much this surgical method will cost must be clarified at the place where the process is performed with a doctor.

Some organs and parts of the human body are of interest. People are curious about what the Adam's apple is for and why the weaker half doesn't have one.

In women, the Adam's apple actually exists, but it is weakly expressed. This anatomical structure is nothing more than the thyroid cartilage. But in lovely ladies it is hardly noticeable. Although there are exceptions when it increases in females. Let's find out what is the cause of this pathology.

Do women have an Adam's apple?

Adam's apple in translation from Turkic means hard, protruding forward. Its other name, Adam's apple, comes from a biblical legend. According to the parable, Eve picked the forbidden fruit and treated it to her husband in order to seduce him.

The first man Adam, unable to resist, tasted the apple of paradise and was punished by choking. Forbidden fruit stuck in throat. And now all men wear this sinful sign.

Anatomically, this part of the body consists of two fused plates of the thyroid cartilage. In men they connect at an acute angle, and in women - at an obtuse angle.

Why don't women have an Adam's apple?

Women have the same cartilage as men, but it is less noticeable because it is covered with pronounced subcutaneous fat. In addition, the predominance of female hormones in the body leads to the fact that the Adam's apple is smaller in size and has a smoother shape.

By the way! However, all organs, bones, muscles and cartilage in women are smaller in size compared to men. This is due to the physiological growth of tissue under the influence of sex hormones.

Why do women get an Adam's apple?

People also have the following question: can a woman have an Adam’s apple? Sometimes pronounced cartilage in women is a manifestation of a genetic trait. A cosmetic defect causes a purely psychological problem.

If a woman’s Adam’s apple has been enlarging lately, this is a reason to be examined by an otolaryngologist or endocrinologist.

The reasons for the appearance of an Adam's apple in women may lie in an imbalance between female and male sex hormones in the direction of increasing the latter. At the same time, girls develop secondary male sexual characteristics in their bodies - hair growth and a rough timbre of the voice. These ladies have a disrupted menstrual cycle.

Important! In addition, an increase in blood androgens in a woman leads to the development of hirsutism. Excessive hair appears on the stomach, face in the antennae area, legs, and around the nipples. Other signs also appear - oily, porous skin, acne, which neither masks nor wiping can cope with. The muscle mass of the body increases according to the male type.

Without treatment, attraction to the opposite sex stops. Conceiving a child becomes a big problem. If such symptoms appear, this is a reason to consult a gynecologist-endocrinologist. He deals with issues of hormonal imbalances in women. The disease can be cured by normalizing hormonal levels. Sometimes they resort to surgery.

Enlargement of the neck in the Adam's apple area occurs with diseases of the thyroid gland - thyroiditis, thyrotoxicosis, Hashimoto's disease, epidemic goiter.

In the cartilage area, it is possible that a tumor may develop, indicating tuberculosis or thyroid cancer. Signs of an enlarged Adam's apple require diagnosis. First of all, you should contact an endocrinologist.

Changing the size of the Adam's apple in men

It has been noted that the size of cartilage in men is influenced by the level of sex hormones. In boys during puberty, the Adam's apple protrudes due to an increase in blood hormones.

How prominent the Adam's apple is on the neck in men also depends on the body type and the amount of fatty tissue in the body. In thin men, the Adam's apple clearly protrudes. On the necks of obese people it does not stand out clearly.

This is interesting! There is an opinion that a more powerful Adam's apple corresponds to stronger vocal cords. According to the unshakable belief of some women, the size of the Adam's apple is a measure of libido and sexual performance. If the cartilage is large, then the owner’s testosterone level is high.

The Adam's apple or Adam's apple is the cartilaginous part of the thyroid gland. It is present in persons of any gender, a large Adam's apple in men and invisible in women. Many have no idea why we need an Adam’s apple, and some even believe that only men have this part of the body. In general, there are a lot of misconceptions, so it’s worth taking a closer look at what the Adam’s apple is, why it’s needed, etc.

What history says

There is a real legend that says that Adam's Adam's apple was formed at the moment when he tried the forbidden apple. The progenitor choked on this fruit, a piece of it got stuck in his throat, which is why he got an Adam's apple. Now every man has this distinctive sign, symbolizing that original sin. Let us say right away that there is no need to take this legend seriously, if only because women also have a similar part of the body.

Purpose of the Adam's apple

The Adam's apple is a secondary sexual characteristic and appears specifically in men; however, in individual cases, the Adam's apple has a characteristic protrusion in women as well. Typically, this phenomenon occurs when a woman experiences a hormonal shift due to an excess of male hormones.

Attention! All people have an Adam's apple, only in women it is almost always hidden, while in men the Adam's apple protrudes somewhat forward, which is noticeable to the naked eye. It can be detected in the process of making guttural sounds; at these moments you need to feel with your fingers the vibrating area on the neck, where the Adam’s apple is located.

The Adam's apple is designed to protect the vocal cords. In addition, the Adam's apple performs protective functions, thanks to which, in the process of swallowing food or water, it is prevented from entering into the body. Airways. The Adam's apple also affects the vocal timbre - the more this part of the body protrudes forward, the rougher the man's voice. The Adam's apple also participates in the process of sound formation, so if we talk, it begins to move. This thyroid cartilage helps us change the timbre of our voice: growl, squeak, etc. Such a change in sounds occurs due to a change in the location of the Adam's apple.

Essentially, the Adam's apple is a double plate of cartilage tissue that protects the vocal cords. With its help, ligamentous tissues are stretched with different voice timbres. During puberty, young men experience a characteristic loss of voice, which is due to the thickening of the thyroid cartilage and lengthening of the ligamentous apparatus.

Why do men have large Adam's apples?

From birth, the tissues of the Adam's apple have a soft structure, but when the period of adolescence begins, they gradually become denser. During puberty, a large amount of testosterone is actively secreted in a boy’s body, which has a major effect on the boy’s body in the future.

When the processes of compaction of cartilaginous tissues end, the Adam's apple becomes bone-like, and its dimensions are often large. Some believe that a large, strongly protruding Adam's apple, from an aesthetic point of view, looks completely unattractive. And others firmly believe that with the large size of the Adam's apple, a man also has incredible abilities in bed, which is completely wrong.

Hormonal levels, testosterone hormone levels, libido and erectile abilities are in no way related to the size of the Adam's apple. Its parameters depend only on the anatomy and physiology, as well as the genetic predisposition of the man. Therefore, experts strongly do not recommend assessing a partner’s sexual capabilities by the size of his Adam’s apple.

Possible problems with the Adam's apple

It is strictly forbidden to allow blows to the area where the Adam's apple is located, since such injuries can lead to fatal consequences. On the neck in the area of ​​the Adam's apple there are many nervous system nodules and endings. If any serious injury occurs, a signal immediately follows to the brain, activating the syncope reflex. The essence of this reflex is that the patient enters a deep state of unconsciousness followed by the cessation of myocardial contractions, as a result of which the heart stops.

Often men develop various pathologies associated with pain in the Adam's apple area:

1. Hyperthyroid or hypothyroid processes caused by increased or decreased secretion of thyroid hormones. Such conditions may be accompanied by hyperhidrosis, tachycardia, tremors in certain parts of the body, diarrhea, fatigue or constipation and sensitivity to cold;
2. Tuberculous or cancerous processes in the larynx. Such conditions are accompanied by pain in the Adam's apple when breathing and swallowing. With the progressive growth of the tumor formation, painful manifestations become much more noticeable. In this case, difficulties may arise with swallowing, bloody expectoration will appear, and with tuberculosis, the voice becomes hoarse and an irritating sore throat is constantly bothering you;
3. Thyroiditis. Inflammation of the thyroid gland caused by infectious lesions of the upper respiratory tract. In this case, patients note disturbing painful symptoms in the Adam's apple area, the thyroid gland enlarges, sepsis and laryngeal growths of a purulent nature appear. In this case, the patient must be hospitalized;
4. Laryngitis or inflammation of the larynx resulting from viral infections, colds and respiratory pathologies. Then patients feel sharp pain in the area of ​​the Adam's apple, accompanied by a barking, dry cough. In the larynx, there is swelling of the mucous tissues, as a result of which there is a feeling of constriction of the Adam's apple and throat;
5. Fracture of cartilage tissue. Accompanied by severe pain symptoms, disorders of swallowing and respiratory functions, etc.;
6. Riedel's thyroiditis or fibrous chronic form of thyroiditis. Such a pathological process is characterized by the proliferation of connective tissue structures in the area adjacent to the Adam's apple.

It is worth protecting the Adam's apple from injury, because when its cartilage is destroyed, the tracheal lumen is blocked, which stops the access of air to the pulmonary system. That is why plastic surgery is practically not performed in this area of ​​the body. If a man feels painful discomfort in the area of ​​the Adam's apple, then he needs to undergo a specialized examination.

) is only available to men. It's a delusion. Representatives of the fair sex also have it, but it’s just not visible. It's all about the structural features of the male and female body.

What is an Adam's apple and why is it needed?

From an anatomical point of view, the Adam's apple is two fused cartilages that cover the larynx, vocal cords and thyroid gland located in the throat. In other words, the Adam's apple protects them from external influences. In addition, this projection of the larynx regulates the timbre of the voice, allowing us to produce high and low sounds.

Why is it only visible in men?

Until a certain age (scientists talk about the range of 13-18 years), cartilage has a soft structure, so we will not see any external differences, for example, between fifth-graders of both sexes.

Over the years, cartilage begins to harden. Since representatives of the stronger sex have longer ligaments than women, the plates of cartilage that form the Adam’s apple become larger in them, and the angle of their convergence becomes sharper (therefore, the male voice has a lower timbre).

In women (as in children), the cartilages converge at an obtuse angle, which does not allow them to speak in a bass voice and makes the timbre softer and higher than in men. In addition, women have a thicker layer of subcutaneous fat on the throat than men, which allows them to better camouflage the Adam's apple.

The name "Adam's apple" is associated with the biblical legend of how Adam ate the forbidden fruit from the tree of the knowledge of good and evil. It is implied that a piece of the fruit got stuck in Adam's throat.