What's an Adam's Apple? (for Kids) (2024)

FAQs

What is an Adam's apple for kids? ›

The term “Adam's apple” refers to the bump that's visible on the front of some people's throats. It's made of cartilage and it protects your voice box. Everyone has cartilage in this area that grows larger during puberty. But it's typically larger in people assigned male at birth than people assigned female at birth.

When the larynx grows larger during puberty, it sticks out at the front of the throat. This is what's called an Adam's apple. Everyone's larynx grows during puberty, but a girl's larynx doesn't grow as much as a boy's does. That's why boys have Adam's apples.

The development of the Adam's apple happens during male puberty, which usually starts between the ages of 9 and 14, but can continue into late teenage years or even early twenties.

In both sexes, regardless of the angle, the primary function of the Adam's Apple is the same as that of the thyroid cartilage it comprises, to protect the vocal cords immediately behind and inferior to it.

Although it is present at birth, it grows during male puberty or with testosterone hormone therapy. Males typically have higher testosterone levels than females, so they also usually have larger Adam's apples. However, biological females may develop an Adam's apple if they use testosterone or transition genders.

When the larynx grows larger during puberty, it sticks out at the front of the throat. This is what's called an Adam's apple. Everyone's larynx grows during puberty, but a girl's larynx doesn't grow as much as a boy's does. That's why boys have Adam's apples.

‌"Adam's apple" is the common term for what doctors call the laryngeal prominence of the thyroid cartilage. It's the cartilage that wraps around the front of your voice box (larynx) and helps protect your vocal cords from injury. Everyone has thyroid cartilage, even though you may not be able to see it.

This expression has not surprisingly been subject to folk explanations, e.g., John Purcell, in A Treatise of Vapours, or Hysterick Fits (2nd ed., London, 1707), says "… an eminence or protuberance plain to be felt and seen in the neck, which several anatomists call Pomum Adami or, the Apple of Adam, from a vulgar ...

Everyone has an Adam's apple, so yes, a girl can have one. However, the Adam's apple is more prominent and visible in those with higher levels of testosterone, typically cisgender males. An Adam's apple is the notch in the thyroid cartilage that looks like a little funnel that protects your vocal chords.

Most girls start their sexual development between the ages of 8 and 13 (the average age is 12), and have a growth spurt between the ages of 10 and 14. Most boys start developing sexually between the ages of 10 and 13, and continue to grow until they're around 16.

What is Adam Apple class 8? ›

It is a protruding part of the throat present in boys. It is visible from the outside as the voice box and larynx enlarged at the onset of puberty.

When Does Puberty Start? Most females will start puberty when they're 8 to 13 years old, and most males will start between 9 and 14. But it can also be normal to start earlier or later. Hormones from the brain trigger the start of puberty.

People with a larger Adam's apple tend to have a deeper voice than people with a smaller one. That's why women often have voices that are less deep than men. An Adam's apple doesn't make you talk clearer or louder than normal, though. An Adam's apple isn't a medical concern, and it won't cause any health problems.

Men and women both have Adam's apples, but they tend to be larger and more visible in men because their thyroid cartilage grows more during puberty, enlarging the larynx and deepening the voice.

What's happening: Infections can lead to inflammation in your throat, including the area around your Adam's apple. And since the throat houses many organs and structures, there are ample opportunities for infections. You could get tonsillitis, strep throat, laryngitis, epiglottis (rare), and acute thyroiditis (rare).

However, some women do have a larger voice box and hence a pronounced Adam's apple. This does not have any serious health implications and could be because of a number of reasons including genetic factors or hormonal imbalances. In such cases, they may choose to get it surgically removed.

Because the Adam's apple is a lump of cartilage, the Adam's apple itself rarely causes discomfort. Instead, pain in that area most likely comes from one of the many organs in your neck.

Most people who opt to go under the knife for a tracheal shave are those born male in the process of gender reassignment and feel their Adam's apple is too prominent. Some women who have a naturally enlarged Adam's apple may also elect to have this procedure done.

It also has something to do with testosterone and genetics; if one(or more) of your parent's adam's apple isn't present - there's a chance yours won't be either. Not all men have large Adam's apples, some just have a small bump.