Table of contents:
- All humans have an Adam's apple
- When did we start growing Adam's apple?
- Why doesn't the woman's Adam's apple stand out?
- The Adam's apple can be surgically reduced
Adam's apple is a typical male physical characteristic that begins to appear during puberty. According to western legend, men have an Adam's apple because of the prophet Adam who violated God's command not to eat apples in heaven. Due to his negligence, the apple slice got stuck in Adam's throat, and all the male descendants of him now live with the evidence. From here comes the term "Adam's Apple", the English equivalent of Adam's apple.
Is this story also the reason why women don't have an Adam's apple?
All humans have an Adam's apple
Jakun (in medical language called prominentia laryngea) is a protrusion in the middle of the throat made of thyroid cartilage - so named because it is located just above the thyroid gland. Thyroid cartilage is cartilage that protects the larynx, the structure in the neck where the vocal cords are located to produce sound.
Both men and women share thyroid cartilage, which forms part of the anatomy of the human neck. This means that women also have an Adam's apple. But generally, the size of a woman's Adam's apple is not as big as that of a man.
The male Adam's apple is obvious for several reasons. First, the structure of the male collarbone is sturdier and thicker than that of the female, so that it can give the Adam's Adam a very distinctive appearance. Second, men and women go through different physical changes during puberty.
When did we start growing Adam's apple?
Girls and boys initially have the same size of thyroid cartilage. But once they start puberty, boys and girls go through a number of different physical changes.
During puberty, the male larynx grows rapidly thanks to the increase in the hormone testosterone to facilitate the male's vocal cords which are indeed thicker and longer - which gives adult men a heavier, bassier sound. As the larynx grows, the surrounding cartilage also grows. The result of this cartilage growth is what we call the Adam's apple.
Why doesn't the woman's Adam's apple stand out?
The girl's thyroid cartilage is also growing, but not as much. As a result, girls and women tend to have higher tones of voice than their male counterparts. In addition, women's bodies in general also have a higher percentage of fat than men's, which subtly "hides" the cartilage protrusions while also giving the appearance of a slimmer neckline.
However, some women can have prominent Adam's apple protrusions for several reasons. Sometimes, a woman's Adam's apple is the result of anatomical anomalies, genetic traits, or a hormonal imbalance that occurs during puberty. In some other cases, the bulge is not actually an Adam's apple, but a growth caused by a certain health condition.
The Adam's apple can be surgically reduced
Unfortunately, because the Adam's apple is so closely associated with the “masculinity” feature, some women with adobe may be dealing with issues that affect their self-esteem as well as their identity. If needed, counseling can help women to gain a new perspective on themselves as well as self-confidence.
Appearance problems due to Adam's apple can also approach men, you know. Especially when their Adam's apple appears to fluctuate clearly when they are feeling nervous or scared, which can "expose" their sense of self-doubt when appearing in front of others.
Both men and women who have problems with their Adam's apple can choose to undergo plastic surgery to reduce the size of the bulge. This plastic surgery procedure is relatively safe, but every medical procedure comes with its own risks. Adam's apple reduction surgery can leave scarring and potential voice changes.
