What is an Adams apple and don women have them?
During puberty, one effect of the hormone surge in both sexes is an enlargement of the larynx and surrounding protective thyroid cartilage. This causes a deepening of the voice in both sexes. However, in boys, the enlargement is usually more pronounced, possibly due to a higher efficacy of testosterone, resulting in the growth becoming more prominent and therefore more visible than on women. Similar to the six-pack in the abdomen, everyone has one really, since everybody has this protective thyroid cartialge overlying the vocal cords, but it isn’t always as visible. In this case however, it is due to a difference in the growth of the cartilage between sexes, rather then a difference in fat overlying the area as is the case with the abdomen. So, to summarise, an Adam’s apple is slang for a prominent thryoid cartialge, and yes, women do have them, but usually not as noticeable.
