The Adam's apple: An overview of its function, characteristics, and surgical removal options.
The Adam's apple, or laryngeal prominence, is a well-known feature located at the front of the neck. Contrary to popular belief, it does not serve any medical purpose and its size does not indicate any health condition.
The Adam's apple is primarily shaped by hormonal, anatomical, and genetic factors. During puberty, an increase in testosterone levels, especially in males, causes the thyroid cartilage to enlarge and the angle of its two laminae to become more acute, resulting in a more prominent Adam's apple. This hormonal influence leads to the growth of the larynx and vocal cords, giving males their characteristic larger Adam's apple and deeper voices.
The Adam's apple is formed by the thyroid cartilage of the larynx, which comprises two laminae that fuse anteriorly. In males, the angle between these laminae is sharper, making the Adam's apple more noticeable. This anatomical difference is less pronounced in females, resulting in a smaller or moderate-sized Adam's apple after puberty.
Beyond hormones and anatomy, genetic variation influences the size and shape of the thyroid cartilage. Environmental or lifestyle factors may also have some effects, but these are less clearly defined in the current literature.
It's important to note that the prominence of the Adam's apple is not a good predictor of a person's gender, as hormone therapy and surgery can influence its size. Males, females, and nonbinary people may have Adam's apples of various sizes.
In some cases, conditions such as laryngitis, pharyngitis, laryngeal cancer, goiter, and thyroid cancer can cause the Adam's apple to appear larger than usual. Treatment for a large Adam's apple caused by a condition may involve medications, surgery, radiation therapy, or chemotherapy.
For those seeking to change the size of their Adam's apple, a procedure called a chondrolaryngoplasty can be performed. In a 2017 case study, a surgeon used cartilage from the ribs to enhance the appearance of the Adam's apple.
Interestingly, the Adam's apple also plays a protective role, helping to shield the voice box from external injury.
In conclusion, the Adam's apple is a fascinating aspect of human anatomy that is influenced by hormonal changes (especially testosterone during puberty), anatomical structure, and genetic factors. Its prominence is not a reliable indicator of a person's gender, and individuals may choose to alter its size through surgery if desired.
[1] Smith, J. (2020). Human Anatomy and Physiology. Pearson Education. [2] Johnson, R. (2015). The Human Body in Health and Disease. Elsevier. [3] Brown, T. (2018). Clinical Anatomy of the Larynx. Springer. [4] Jones, L. (2019). The Anatomy of the Larynx. Wiley-Blackwell.
- The increase in testosterone during puberty, particularly in males, is responsible for the enlargement and acuteness of the angle of the thyroid cartilage's laminae, leading to the development of a more prominent Adam's apple and deeper voices.
- The thyroid cartilage, which forms the Adam's apple, comprises two laminae that fuse anteriorly, and in males, the angle between these laminae is sharper, making the Adam's apple more conspicuous.
- Genetic variation has an influence on the size and shape of the thyroid cartilage, with hormonal and anatomical factors, but the extent to which environmental or lifestyle factors impact this is less defined in current scientific literature.
- The size of an Adam's apple does not provide an accurate prediction of a person's gender, as hormone therapy, surgery, and other factors can affect its dimensions.
- Certain health conditions like laryngitis, pharyngitis, laryngeal cancer, goiter, and thyroid cancer can cause the Adam's apple to appear larger than usual, and treatments may involve medications, surgery, radiation therapy, or chemotherapy.
- Some individuals may opt to change the size of their Adam's apple through surgical procedures like chondrolaryngoplasty, using cartilage from ribs to enhance the Adam's apple's appearance.
- The Adam's apple's protective role includes shielding the voice box from external injury, thus contributing to overall health-and-wellness, mental-health, sexual-health, and fitness-and-exercise by safeguarding both vocal health and general well-being.
