When does the Adam's apple grow? What does a large Adam's apple mean in men and why is it needed? Why do men need an Adam's apple: what is the use of it?

Why do men have an Adam's apple, but women do not? Why is it needed and what is its role in the human body?

What is an Adam's apple?

Why do men have an Adam's apple on their necks? A protrusion in the throat area is present in all representatives of the stronger half of humanity. In some it is less pronounced, in others it is quite large.

What is an Adam's apple? The Adam's apple is a protrusion of the thyroid cartilage in the larynx. Due to its structural features (it forms an acute angle), it is not only palpable under the skin, but also protrudes significantly above its level. Women also have this cartilage, but it is less pronounced and is masked by adipose tissue.

The Adam's apple on the neck begins to appear in adolescence, when the young man's body undergoes hormonal changes. In this case, the configuration of the thyroid cartilage changes, which leads to a significant protrusion of the angle outward. The more testosterone is produced, the more noticeable the throat protrusion becomes.

The Adam's apple (cartilage) plays an important role in the functioning of the human body. Main meaning:

  1. Support. The thyroid cartilage houses the endocrine glands - the thyroid and parathyroid.
  2. Structural. Combines some elements into one configuration - 2 parts of the thyroid cartilage, epiglottis and hyoid bone.
  3. Voice-forming. The vocal cords are attached to the Adam's apple, which produce sound.
  4. Protective. The gular protrusion is located in front of the trachea, protecting it from damage. The vocal cords are also covered. When eating, the Adam's apple blocks the airways to prevent food from accidentally entering the bronchi.

A large Adam's apple, together with a change in the timbre of the voice, is a unique sign of puberty in a man.

Why does the Adam's apple hurt?

In some cases, the ridge on the neck may be painful. Most often, discomfort appears after an injury or other mechanical impact on the cartilage.

But this does not always happen. In certain situations, if the Adam's apple hurts, this indicates the development of a serious pathology. At the same time, it is important to take into account other accompanying symptoms, since only in combination they have diagnostic value. The main causes of pain in the Adam's apple area:

  1. Decreased production of hormones in the thyroid gland with subsequent development of hypothyroidism. Other signs include chronic fatigue, constipation and poor perception of cold and frost.
  2. Hyperthyroidism. Develops due to increased synthesis of thyroid hormones. Clinical manifestations include rapid heartbeat, severe sweating, nervousness, and diarrhea.
  3. Thyroiditis. The inflammatory process in the thyroid gland often occurs as a result of complications of infectious diseases of nearby organs. Most often, the development of the disease is provoked by pathologies of the upper respiratory tract. In addition to pain in the Adam's apple area, patients complain of signs of malaise due to severe intoxication of the body. The endocrine gland increases in size, which means the development of sepsis is possible.
  4. Laryngitis. Pain in the Adam's apple occurs when the inflammatory process spreads from the larynx to the thyroid cartilage. The manifestations of laryngitis come to the fore: severe paroxysmal cough, swelling of the mucous membrane of the throat.
  5. Fracture of the cartilaginous larynx. The main cause is traumatic injury. The pain is localized not only in the Adam's apple area, but also spreads to nearby areas. Patients complain of severe discomfort when breathing, swallowing and coughing.
  6. Cancer and tuberculosis of the larynx. The pathological process in any of these diseases is widespread. With a malignant tumor, pain does not appear in the initial stages of development, but when the tumor significantly increases in size.
  7. Riedel's thyroiditis. As a result of pronounced proliferation of thyroid tissue, compression of nerve endings and blood vessels occurs.

If you experience pain in the Adam's apple area, you don't need to leave things to chance. This may be the first sign of a serious illness. Therefore, it is necessary to contact a specialist as soon as possible for examination and examination.

Many men have a clearly visible protrusion in the larynx, which is called the Adam's apple. This name has Turkic origin. Adam's apple is translated as “protruding.” The protrusion of the larynx has a special structure and performs a number of important functions in the human body. Let's find out what the Adam's apple is and why it is needed.

The laryngeal prominence refers to the part of the thyroid cartilage located at the front of the neck. The Adam's apple consists of two plates, which are located at a certain angle, which makes it especially visible in some men.

The following functions of the Adam's apple are characteristic:

  • participation in the formation of the voice and sounds that a person makes;
  • influence on voice timbre;
  • protection of the throat from external damage;
  • blockage of breathing when a person swallows food and water.

The answer to the question of why a man needs an Adam's apple lies in the need to identify him as a male. The protrusion forms a typically male low timbre of voice, which is one of the signs of a representative of the strong half of humanity.

Adam's apple also takes an active part in the functioning of the thyroid gland. At the same time, it does not produce hormones, but its condition can be used to judge the functioning of the gland.

Pain in the area of ​​the protrusion often indicates that a person has hyperthyroidism or a cancerous tumor in the thyroid gland.

What does it look like

Guys' Adam's apple looks like a protrusion in the front of the neck, as can be seen in the photo. It is one of the fragments of the thyroid cartilage, which contains two plates. They form an angle due to which the protrusion becomes clearly visible in men.

What does it consist of?

The structure of the Adam's apple is as follows:

  1. Right and left plates.
  2. Upper horns located on top of the plates. With their help, the Adam's apple articulates with the hyoid bone.
  3. The inferior horns connect to the cricoid laryngeal cartilage, which forms the basis of the larynx.

Both plates are connected by a midline. It is this that forms the angle of the cartilage. Its upper part is called the protrusion of the larynx. Especially in adult men, the Adam's apple protrudes strongly due to the fact that the male ligaments are much longer than those of women.

Adam's apple in boys

When boys develop an Adam's apple depends on the individual characteristics of the body. The projection is a secondary sexual characteristic characteristic of males.

Statistics indicate that in 11% of boys at the age of 15, laryngeal cartilage begins to form. The vast majority of young men (40%) develop an Adam's apple at the age of 17.

The growth of thyroid cartilage is associated with the effect of testosterone on it. This male hormone affects the vocal cords and increases the angle of the laryngeal cartilage, due to which it is especially noticeable in men.

By increasing in size, the Adam's apple helps lengthen the vocal cords. This causes the teenager's voice to become low.

Reference. There may be cases (10%) when the appearance of a laryngeal protrusion begins to be observed in children starting at 12 years of age.

Most often, the Adam's apple is formed in young men in the age range from 12 to 17 years. By the age of 18, their final protrusion has formed. In the future, it does not grow and remains in size until the end of life.

Reasons for the presence of a protrusion only in men

The question often arises about why only men have an Adam's apple. The Adam's apple (another name for the protrusion) is also present in representatives of the fairer sex, but due to a number of anatomical features it is not very noticeable among them.

The main reasons for the invisibility of the Adam's apple in women are:

  • their vocal cords are significantly shorter compared to men;
  • the presence in women of a fatty layer in the neck, which smoothes out the protrusion;
  • smaller angle of fusion of cartilaginous plates.

In representatives of the stronger sex, the angle of fusion of the Adam's apple plates is much sharper than in women. This is the main reason for the visibility of the protrusion among them and its invisibility among representatives of the fairer sex.

Peculiarity. Since testosterone plays a decisive role in the development of the Adam's apple in men, it grows more noticeable in them. Women also have testosterone in their bodies, but in much lower concentrations. Estrogen produced by the ovaries in women does not have a strong effect on the protuberance.

Some people experience a phenomenon called a double Adam's apple. The reasons for its appearance lie in the physiology and genetics of an individual person. There may be cases of double fusion of cartilage plates, which visually creates the appearance of a large protrusion.

This condition is normal. If necessary, a person can reduce the size of the Adam's apple by undergoing thyroid chondroplasty. Such an intervention is not recommended due to possible hormonal imbalances in the human body.

Do all representatives of the stronger sex have a prominence of the larynx?

The answer to the question whether all men have an Adam's apple is yes. This cartilage is typical for all representatives of not only the stronger half of humanity, but also for women. However, the size of the Adam's apple can vary significantly from person to person.

In a number of men, the protrusion is large and very noticeable in the neck area. For others it is almost invisible. Both cases are physiological norms.

The size of the Adam's apple is associated solely with the anatomical characteristics of a particular man. Genetic factors and the structure of the neck also play a role.

Due to the presence of different sizes of protrusions, men have different voice timbres. For some it may be low, for others it may be higher. In this case, any conditions can be considered normal.

Conclusion

The Adam's apple is one of the signs of a man. This protrusion is formed in all people, but is more noticeable in the representatives of the stronger sex. Cartilage performs a number of functions, including protecting the trachea from damage. The main purpose of the protrusion is to form a typically male low timbre of the voice.

Damage to the Adam's apple is a fatal injury, since its fragments can cause suffocation and internal bleeding in the larynx. This is one of the most vulnerable parts of the male body.

Adam's apple in men- a protruding formation on the outer front of the larynx. People often call it “Adam’s apple”: according to legend, a man’s Adam’s apple grew at the moment when he tasted the forbidden apple from the hands of Eve. And his presence to this day reminds us of the sinfulness of man.

In fact, the cartilage in a man's neck has certain functions. In addition, all women have an Adam’s apple; it’s just that with normal hormonal levels in the fair half of humanity it is less noticeable. It is useful for any person who cares about their health to know where it is located and what pathologies associated with it exist, and Do all men have an Adam's apple?.

Adam's apple size

The answer to the question is why do men grow adam's apple, lies in the area of ​​​​work of his hormonal system. Until about 14 years of age, cartilage is small and soft in structure, but during puberty, under the influence of testosterone, cartilage increases in size and becomes denser.

What does a man's Adam's apple mean? is a very common question. Is it possible to draw conclusions about a man’s temperament, health and character based on his size? The answer will be negative. Why do men's Adam's apple protrude? too strong, it’s difficult to say, since the shape and size depend solely on the anatomical features of the structure of a person’s neck and his genetics. The Adam's apple cannot be an indicator of any aspect of a man's personality or physiology. Both a large, protruding, sharp Adam’s apple and a small, barely noticeable one are normal variants.

Why do you need an Adam's apple?

If in men a large Adam's apple is one of the secondary sexual characteristics, and in women, as a rule, it is absent, a logical question arises: Why do men need an Adam's apple??

One of its most important functions is protective. Dense cartilaginous plates reliably protect the larynx and organs located in the neck, in particular the thyroid gland, which produces hormones involved in all physiological processes, as well as the vocal cords.

The second function of the Adam's apple is associated with the vocal cords. It is at the moment of its growth that changes in the timbre of the voice in men occur, the so-called vocal withdrawal. And this is not a coincidence, because during the compaction of the cartilage, the vocal cords also lengthen.

The Adam's apple also takes an active part in protecting the respiratory system. When a person swallows food or water, cartilage in the throat closes off the airway, preventing the person from choking.

If you touch the front of your neck while talking, you may notice that the Adam's apple plates vibrate and move. Without this process, sounds cannot be reproduced. The Adam's apple makes it possible not only to talk, but also to arbitrarily change the timbre and pitch of the voice. So it's absolutely clear what is the Adam's apple for in men? and what is its functional purpose.

Adam's apple in women

Considering the question, what is A man's Adam's apple and why it is needed, we cannot ignore the problem of having an Adam’s apple in women. On the one hand, the Adam's apple is a distinctive feature of the male body, on the other hand, it cannot be said that a woman is completely absent. So, the question is Why is Adam's apple only in men?, is completely incorrect.

Women also have cartilaginous plates that protect the larynx, thyroid gland and vocal cords, but during the period of hormonal changes it does not change its shape, but remains flat. However, it can also be seen by tilting the head back or touching the front of the neck while speaking or swallowing.

Why does the Adam's apple in women not change shape and size during puberty? The thing is, what a change male Adam's apple structure testosterone is responsible, which is actively produced by the testes and adrenal glands starting from the age of 14. In women, hormonal changes occur differently; during this period, the concentration of female hormones in their blood increases, which cannot affect the growth of the Adam’s apple, which explains Why do men's Adam's apple stick out?, but the representatives of the fair half of humanity do not. Women also have a more pronounced layer of fat in the neck area than men, which smoothes out the anatomical features of this part of the body.

However, sometimes there are cases when the cartilaginous plates on a woman’s neck have a pronounced shape, reminiscent of an Adam’s apple. There may be two reasons for this: individual anatomical features of the neck structure or a hormonal imbalance, in which the concentration of male hormones in the body prevails over female ones. As a rule, in the latter case, the Adam's apple is not the only sign of pathology: for example, a woman may have increased body hair, a low voice, and delayed sexual development.

Is it possible to change the size of the Adam's apple?

How to reduce Adam's apple in men- a request from men who are dissatisfied with the large size of their Adam's apple and would like to reduce it. Such an operation really exists, and its name is chondrolorhinoplasty.

But in practice, doctors resort to such plastic surgery extremely rarely, since it is very dangerous. During surgery, there is a risk of blocking the airway, damaging the thyroid gland or vocal cords. There is a high risk of similar complications during the rehabilitation period, since it is impossible to fix the cartilage on the neck as reliably as possible, like nasal cartilage. Therefore, a man can easily damage the operated Adam’s apple during sleep or physical movements.

In addition, the correlation between the size of the Adam's apple and its aesthetics is very difficult to find. If you can rely on certain parameters in facial features, according to which you can conditionally classify them as beautiful, or, on the contrary, unattractive, then in the case of the Adam’s apple, this is almost impossible. Why do men have big Adam's apple?, and which Adam’s apple is considered large is a matter of individual aesthetic preferences.

How to enlarge the Adam's apple in men– a question that comes up extremely rarely. Such an operation is technically complex and unjustified, since it is impossible to enlarge the cartilage itself, you can only increase the angle between the plates, so in practice it actually does not occur.

The question of removing the Adam's apple may arise during an operation to change the sex of a person: when, through surgical manipulation and hormonal therapy, a man is transformed into a woman. In this case, it may be necessary to remove the Adam's apple if it is too pronounced. If, during the preoperative diagnosis, the doctor decides that surgery does not pose too great a risk to the life and health of the patient, he can change the appearance of the Adam's apple in two ways.

Partial removal of Adam's apple

Partial removal of the Adam's apple solves the problem, how to remove Adam's apple in men with minimal risk and without subsequent change in voice timbre. In this case, the surgeon does not completely remove the cartilage tissue; he only changes the angle of their inclination, thereby smoothing the surface of the neck.

Complete removal of the Adam's apple

The operation to completely remove the Adam's apple is one of the most difficult and dangerous in surgical practice. This part of the neck is necessary for a person, and in order to make sure of this, you should once again study the section Why does a man need an Adam's apple?.

The number of negative consequences of complete chondrolaryngoplasty is enormous; in addition to the colossal health risk, a man is faced with a change in the timbre of his voice (it becomes thin, feminine) and the absolute irreversibility of the process.

Both operations require careful preparation and a long rehabilitation period, which will first take place in a hospital hospital and then at home.

Adam's apple pathologies

If men have pain in their Adam's apple when pressed– this is a cause for serious concern. This symptom should never be ignored; at the first sign of discomfort, you should consult a doctor.

Considering the location of the Adam's apple, we can conclude in which organs the somatic pathology is present. In fact, the list below is not exhaustive, so you cannot diagnose it yourself.

But know reasons why the Adam's apple hurts when pressed in men, will be useful to every representative of the strong half of humanity.

Thyroid diseases

Thyroid pathologies are the most common cause Why does the Adam's apple hurt in men?. In fact, it is incorrect to say that the pain syndrome is present directly in the cartilage tissue of the Adam's apple, but according to subjective sensations, the discomfort will be localized there.

What thyroid pathologies can be diagnosed by pain in the neck? First of all, it is necessary to consider the phenomenon of hypothyroidism. In fact, hypothyroidism is not a disease, but a condition of the body in which the thyroid gland produces insufficient amounts of hormones (T3, T4). The symptoms of this condition can be varied, since hormones are involved in the activity of almost all systems. Most often, a person complains of fatigue, chilliness, swelling, and depression. If a man's Adam's apple hurts against the background of diagnosed hypothyroidism, this indicates changes in the morphological structure of the thyroid gland (scarring). This symptom is statistically rare.

Hyperthyroidism is the opposite of hypothyroidism, a condition in which the thyroid gland produces too much hormone, causing the body to experience a condition called thyrotoxicosis. Pain in the Adam's apple area in men in this case, it occurs because hyperthyroidism occurs due to formations in the thyroid gland (nodes), which increase the volume of the organ and put pressure on the Adam's apple.

With this pathology, a person experiences irritability, weight loss, and hot flashes.

Inflammatory processes in the larynx

Discomfort in the Adam's apple area can occur due to inflammatory processes in the larynx: pharyngitis, laryngitis and, less commonly, tonsillitis. With these pathologies, tissue swelling occurs, and a sore throat can be perceived as pain in the Adam’s apple. Pain in the Adam's apple when swallowing in men– the most common symptom of laryngitis.

This pathology is easy to recognize by the general clinical picture: elevated body temperature, general malaise, cough, sore throat. If the pathology is chronic, the symptoms will be less pronounced, but the focus of chronic infection will provoke swelling and pain in the Adam's apple area.

Injuries

If the pain syndrome is localized specifically in the area of ​​the Adam's apple, there is every reason to assume the presence of an injury to the anterior surface of the neck. After the soft cartilage hardens to bone density during the process of hormonal changes in the body, it is quite difficult to involuntarily damage the Adam’s apple. Therefore, an injury to the Adam's apple is always accompanied by severe acute pain.

Pain in the Adam's apple area in men resulting from a fracture is very dangerous. In this case, the cartilage plate can block the trachea and serve as a serious mechanical obstacle to breathing. Surgical assistance in this case is required immediately, otherwise the situation can be fatal. If a blow to the Adam's apple provokes a syncope reflex in the brain, the person's heart instantly stops.

Tuberculosis or laryngeal cancer

Tuberculosis and laryngeal cancer are one of the most dangerous reasons for which painful sensations form in the area of ​​the anterior surface of the neck. Initially, the pain may be insignificant, but then the person begins to suffer from a severe cough with blood. The voice becomes hoarse, the person experiences a constant desire to clear his throat and cough.

Riedel's thyroiditis

Based on the name, it may seem that Riedel's thyroiditis is related to the activity of the thyroid gland. However, modern medicine has not yet identified the mechanisms of formation of this pathology. It is only known that the connective fibers around the Adam's apple begin to actively grow, the formation puts pressure on all nearby organs and tissues: the thyroid gland, esophagus, Adam's apple.

Osteochondrosis

The cause of pain in almost any part of the body can be found in a phenomenon called osteochondrosis. The mechanism of formation of this problem can be understood if we consider in more detail the structure of the nervous system.

The main organs of the nervous system are the brain and spinal cord. The latter is located inside the spine, and its functions include controlling internal organs. Moreover, each part of the spine (thoracic, cervical, lumbar and sacral) is responsible for its own “floor” in the human body. All signals from the brain first enter the spinal cord, and only from there, along nerve connections, to the nerve endings.

With osteochondrosis, degenerative changes occur in the cartilage tissue between the joints, which disrupts the transmission of nerve signals and can cause pain in any part of the body, depending on which part of the spine osteochondrosis is most pronounced. With cervical osteochondrosis, pain may occur in the Adam's apple area.

Obviously, it is impossible to independently determine the cause of discomfort in the Adam’s apple area. Only after a thorough diagnosis can a doctor identify pathology and prescribe treatment.

For help, you can contact a therapist or otolaryngologist. If necessary, after examination, laboratory and functional diagnostics, the patient will be referred to a doctor of another narrow specialization.

So obviously what causes the Adam's apple to grow in men, why a woman’s neck is smoother and more even, what pathologies associated with cartilaginous plates on the neck exist, and how to deal with them.

A man must know everything about his body in order to monitor his health and use the body’s resources to the maximum.

We have known about the functioning of the heart, kidneys, and brain since school.

What do you know about the Adam's apple? And why is it greater than in women?

The Adam's apple is a solid piece of cartilage in the area of ​​the larynx. It is often confused with the thyroid gland. It is interconnected with the vocal cords.

The name is of Turkic origin and translates as “strong”. This prominent section of a man’s neck is popularly nicknamed “Adam’s apple.”

According to biblical legend, the Adam's apple serves as a reminder of the sin committed - eating the forbidden fruit in the Garden of Eden. The pouring apple got stuck in sinful Adam’s throat.

Functions

Fused cartilage is like a dense plate that becomes stiffer over time.

It carries its functional load:

  1. Voice formation. The Adam's apple is involved in the production of sounds. The plate strains the vocal cords. As boys get older, their voices become rougher because the Adam's apple hardens, putting more strain on the ligaments.
  2. Protection of the larynx organs. In the event of a blow or strangulation, the plate protects the front of the neck, in some cases this saves lives.

Why is a man's Adam's apple larger than a woman's?

The Adam's apple is a secondary sexual characteristic. It is clearly expressed in men.

On the female neck, cartilage is released when there is a hormonal imbalance in the body - there is more testosterone than estrogen.

All people have Adam's cartilage. It can be easily felt on the neck while speaking in a place where vibration is felt.

In mature men, the Adam's apple protrudes noticeably due to longer vocal cords. They undergo qualitative changes during adolescence under hormonal influence.

Sexual question

A protruding Adam's apple is proof of being male. It can be used to distinguish transvestites and transsexuals. Sometimes representatives of these groups decide to remove noticeable cartilage through surgery.

Removing the Adam's apple is a risky surgical procedure that can cause severe harm to health.

What does the size depend on?

Some women try to determine the libido of its owner by the size of a man's Adam's apple. The larger it is, the sexier and more attractive the partner. This is a wrong assumption.

The size of the Adam's apple does not depend on testosterone levels. The reason for the large protruding Adam's apple lies only in individual physiology, determined by genes.

Also, the size depends on life habits, age, health and psychological mood.

Adam's apple hurts when swallowing

Pain in the Adam's apple area indicates a number of diseases.

  • Laryngitis. Viruses and colds provoke inflammation in the larynx. Symptoms: dry cough, pain when swallowing, swelling of the mucous membrane. If the disease is neglected, it will turn into a chronic illness.
  • Hypothyroidism. The thyroid gland cannot cope with the production of hormones. Symptoms: causeless fatigue, discomfort at low outside temperatures, stool retention.
  • Fibrous thyroiditis. The root causes of the disease are unknown; tissue formations around the Adam's apple grow. Signs: a greatly enlarged thyroid gland, which begins to put pressure on the trachea.
  • Hyperthyroidism. Excess thyroid hormones. Symptoms: loose stools, nervousness, heavy sweating, tremors.
  • Laryngeal cancer. The severity of the pain depends on the stage of formation, the patient coughs up blood. There are difficulties with eating.
  • Tuberculosis. The throat begins to sore, bloody discharge and hoarseness appear in the voice.
  • Thyroiditis. An upper respiratory tract infection causes inflammation of the thyroid gland. Treatment requires hospitalization. Symptoms: pain, enlarged thyroid gland, sepsis, ulcers.
  • Fracture. Symptoms: pain, difficulty breathing, coughing and swallowing.

If your Adam's apple hurts, immediate medical examination is required. The triggering factors may be different, but they all have serious consequences. Don’t delay making an appointment with an ENT specialist or endocrinologist.

The Adam's apple is a large cartilage located in the larynx and connected to the vocal system. It got its name from the Turkic word “Adam’s apple”, which translated means “protruding”, “strong”, “strong”. Gradually this word entered the Russian language.

Why is the Adam's apple called "Adam's apple"

The Adam's apple in men has another name - “Adam's apple”. According to biblical legend, the first man, Adam, decided to taste the forbidden fruit and plucked it from the Tree of the Knowledge of Good and Evil. But I didn’t have time to enjoy it. The apple got stuck in his throat. This is how the second name for the Adam's apple appeared.

Do women have an Adam's apple?

Many people have thought about this question. Everyone knows that men have an Adam's apple, but women have it? Sometimes you can hear the opinion that only men have it, but this is wrong. In representatives of the stronger sex, the Adam's apple is a pronounced protrusion around the larynx, consisting of thyroid cartilage. In females it practically does not appear, but it is still present. The Adam's apple exists not only in all humans, but also in mammals.

The protrusion in the larynx is expressed differently in both sexes. As mentioned above, the Adam's apple stands out most strongly in men. This is due to the development of the skeletal system. In men, cartilage is located at an acute angle, and in women - at an obtuse angle. Therefore, the Adam's apple is more noticeable in the stronger sex. In addition, in women it is located in the middle of the throat and is surrounded by fat, which makes the protrusion almost invisible. Although sometimes after a sharp weight loss it can appear as clearly as in men.

Why do men need an Adam's apple: what is the use of it?

The Adam's apple plays an important role in the body. It not only protects the vocal cords located in the larynx. The cartilages of the Adam's apple cover the airways, which is important when eating. Thanks to them, water and food enter the esophagus, and people do not choke while eating.

Why do men need an Adam's apple? It takes part in stretching the vocal cords and is responsible for the pitch and timbre of the voice. The cartilage tissue of the Adam's apple is initially very soft, but hardens over time as the vocal cords lengthen. Therefore, the loss of voice in young men during the transitional period is associated with hardening of the Adam’s apple.

Why does it hurt?

The Adam's apple hurts in men for various reasons:


If pain occurs in the Adam's apple, you should immediately consult a doctor (endocrinologist or ENT specialist) in order to identify the disease in time and avoid subsequent complications.

Adam's apple dimensions

There is a misconception that the size of the penis or male sexuality can be determined by the size of the Adam's apple. The size of the Adam's apple is not affected by testosterone hormones. Although it can be used to determine their probable number in the body. A large Adam’s apple in men means that, most likely, the percentage of testosterone is quite high, and if the “Adam’s apple” is small, then it is low.

The size of the Adam's apple depends only on the anatomical structure of the body, which is transmitted genetically, as well as on physiology. The growth of Adam's apple cartilage occurs during puberty. Then the Adam's apple in men no longer increases in size.

Why is an Adam's apple injury dangerous?

Injury to the Adam's apple is very life-threatening. There are many nerve endings in the cartilage area. A person can not only lose consciousness. Food and water may enter the respiratory tract instead of the esophagus. As a result, the person will suffocate.

There are often cases when the heart stops due to an injury to the Adam's apple. This happens due to a reflex called syncope. With Adam's apple bruises, a valve closing effect can occur when air stops flowing into the lungs.

There is an expression “bosom friend”. Sometimes its meaning is taken to be “long-standing and devoted.” In fact, the exact translation of the expression means “drinking buddy,” as it comes from the phrase “to lay behind the Adam’s apple.”

The Adam's apple in men can be pulled back. If you make the lowest sound, and at the same time observe the “Adam's apple” in the mirror, you can see that the cartilage descends lower in the larynx. Animals often use this technique to attract the attention of females. For example, during the rut, a wapiti can make such low sounds that its Adam's apple descends all the way down to its sternum.

But the cartilage in the larynx is not retracted in all animals. For some, they do not descend, but there is a greatly enlarged resonator at the top of the Adam's apple. Very small allows you to emit ultrasound, which bats use for echolocation. And the largest Adam's apple, occupying the entire chest, pushing aside the heart and lungs, is found in the hammerhead. This is the only bat with a deep voice.

In conclusion, let us recall that the Adam's apple is an important part of the human body. And in case of injury, you should immediately consult a doctor. There is also no need to delay visiting the clinic in cases where a person experiences pain and discomfort in the Adam’s apple area. This will save a person from possible throat diseases or various unpleasant complications in the future.