What does the Adam's apple look like from the inside? Adam's apple in men: what it means and why it is needed

Oddly enough, there are many myths and legends surrounding this organ. The word Adam's apple has Turkic roots and literally means hard. According to Christian belief, the hump on a man's neck has a religious origin. When the first people in the Garden of Eden, Adam and Eve, ate the Forbidden fruit in the form of an apple from the Tree of Knowledge, and then the man learned about the betrayal of the woman and the cunning of the Serpent, he choked on a piece of the apple. It was this piece that got stuck in his throat, and now the Adam’s apple is passed down from generation to generation as a symbol of the first sin. The Christian faith does not provide for its physiological purpose, i.e., why it is needed.

To understand what an Adam's apple is and what it looks like, you need to look at a man's throat. Approximately in the middle of the neck on the front side there is a tubercle. In some representatives of the stronger half of humanity, the Adam's apple protrudes strongly forward, and therefore it is not difficult to notice it. It is a mistake to think that adam's apple is a part thyroid gland. Based on this, we can immediately conclude that there are no functions associated with endocrine system, the hump on the neck does not work.

The Adam's apple is part of the thyroid cartilage and is considered part of the larynx. It consists of 2 parts, plates. Its main function is to create a kind of protective shield for the thyroid gland, as well as for other organs that are located in this area.

If a representative of the stronger sex has a very pronounced tubercle on his neck, this indicates that the man has long vocal cords. The angle of fusion of cartilaginous plates depends on this feature of the body.

Another widespread but erroneous opinion: only men have an Adam’s apple. This statement is considered incorrect. Anatomical structure Women in this area are slightly different due to the length of the vocal cords. They are shorter, respectively, and the cartilaginous plates do not fuse at an acute angle. But the purpose of the Adam's apple remains the same: it is needed to protect the organs of the neck from various injuries.

Apart from the obtuse angle of fusion of the plates, the female tubercle is not noticeable due to the fact that it is additionally covered from above by cervical skin fat. You can notice a characteristic protrusion in girls with insufficient body weight.

Not only people have an Adam's apple. Thyroid cartilage is present in almost all animal kingdoms. With the help of the Adam's apple, an elephant can produce infrasound that is not audible human ear, but this large mammal senses sound with its feet at a distance of 2 km. When the Adam's apple is small, such as in bats, it makes it possible to emit ultrasound.

From the above it follows that the presence of this hump on the neck has great importance not only for humans, but also for representatives of the animal world.

The formation of the Adam's apple occurs during puberty under the influence of sex hormones. The formation of the Adam's apple in boys may be accompanied by unpleasant sensations in the throat. It is during this period that the voice changes. You need to be able to distinguish between discomfort and pain. Therefore, if during puberty a young man experiences pain in this area, he should consult a doctor.

The complete completion of the process of formation of the protective shield occurs at approximately 18 years of age. The cartilage of the Adam's apple strengthens, becomes hard and can increase under the influence of testosterone.

This body accepts Active participation both in women's and male body. The purpose of the Adam's apple is not limited to the protective function of the larynx. With its help, a person can speak and also eat food.

During swallowing, this part of the larynx partially blocks the airways, and food does not enter them. Adam's apple - the right organ. Without it, it would be impossible to even drink water without danger to health.

When the vocal cords are stretched in combination with the air passing through them, sound is generated, i.e. the voice. With the help of muscles you can adjust the position of the protrusion on the throat. The ability to change the position of the Adam's apple makes it possible to control the timbre of the voice. Larynx like whole organ can be lowered and raised, thanks to this the volume of the vocal tract will change. And the shape of this path can be changed with the tongue and lips, and then screams, singing or curses will be heard.

The modern development of fashion, namely the unisex style, sometimes makes it difficult to determine the gender of the person standing in front of you. It is the Adam's apple that can help understand this problem.

Removal of cartilage, i.e. correction of its shape, is dangerous operation. For this reason this procedure carried out in extremely rare situations. And even when a man wants to change his gender, he is not recommended to remove his protruding Adam’s apple. Unsuccessful injury to this area can lead to damage to the vocal cords, which may result in a change in the voice or a disturbance in the functioning of the speech apparatus.

Despite the fact that the growth of the Adam's apple is influenced by testosterone, there is no official confirmation that the size of the protuberance on a man's neck has a connection with his sexual abilities.

Organ injury

Although the Adam's apple performs a protective function, in fact this body quite fragile. Pain in the Adam's apple is serious symptom, therefore, if it occurs, you must immediately seek medical help.

Injury to the Adam's apple, despite the fact that it is cartilage, is dangerous for a person, as syncope can occur. The pathological process implies loss of consciousness and even cardiac arrest cannot be ruled out.

When the Adam's apple is seriously injured, the trachea is damaged, resulting in difficulty breathing. A piece of tissue torn from the trachea can begin to act as a valve. It will cut off the oxygen supply to the lungs.

On the throat of every person there is a cartilaginous formation of two plates. A man's Adam's apple forms a kind of protrusion on the throat. It is less noticeable in women, since the plates are connected at a slight angle. Why does a person need an Adam’s apple, what function does it perform?

The Adam's apple is less noticeable in women because the plates connect at a slight angle.

“Hard, tough” is how the word is translated from the Turkic language. You can often hear the name "Adam's apple", which connects it with biblical history about Adam and Eve. When Adam ate the fruit of paradise, it got stuck in his throat. The resulting lump is called the Adam's apple. If you have a sore throat in the Adam's apple area and it hurts to swallow, you should consult a doctor to find out the cause.

Structure and functions of the Adam's apple

The plates that form the Adam's apple protect the pharynx from external influence, create support for ligaments, take part in the “birth” of sounds. The pronounced shape of a man's Adam's apple is due to the heavy load that he has to withstand. The male voice is distinguished by strength and roughness, which are provided by massiveness skeletal system, cartilage strength.

IN childhood and in women this protrusion is less noticeable, in addition, it is hidden by the fat layer on the neck. The change in size is due to hormonal disorders. When male hormones prevail over female ones, the Adam's apple enlarges. It can be clearly visible in girls of fragile physique. Why does a person need an Adam’s apple:

when swallowing, it blocks the airway, preventing water and food from entering it,
how a shield closes the larynx from mechanical injuries,
is part of the "voice" system.

If you pronounce a vowel sound for a long time and put your hand to your neck, you can feel the vibration that occurs inside the Adam's apple. In young men, the Adam's apple is soft and quite flexible. As a boy grows up, the plates increase in size, become harder, the angle between them becomes sharper, and is more clearly visible under the skin. Excessive increase in bulge does not look aesthetically pleasing. Some men turn to the doctor with the question of why the Adam's apple is needed, is it possible to reduce it? This procedure is performed surgically. If there is pain in the Adam's apple area, you first need to determine what caused it. After this, you can begin treatment.

When male hormones prevail over female ones, the Adam's apple enlarges.

Causes of pain

Men more often go to the doctor with the complaint of a sore throat in the area of the Adam's apple. This is due to the features physical development And hormonal system. When describing pain, terms are often used: cutting, pulling, aching, stabbing. It usually gets worse while eating and prevents you from swallowing normally. Its causes include injuries, bruises, problems with the thyroid gland, and osteochondrosis. If your Adam's apple hurts, you should not brush it off; you should see a doctor immediately.

Thyroid diseases

Swelling and inflammation of the thyroid gland are characteristic of thyroiditis. Viruses are often the causative agent of the disease. Often the disease develops against the background of influenza, ARVI, mumps. Its symptoms:

feverish condition,
pain in the front of the neck, radiating throughout the head,
pain in the Adam's apple when swallowing,
hoarseness of voice,
pressing sensation in the gland.

Early treatment will eliminate unpleasant symptoms, will completely relieve the disease. If you delay visiting a doctor, there is a high probability of complications. Pus accumulated in the thyroid gland can enter the bloodstream and spread further throughout the body.

Another type of thyroiditis is fibrous. It manifests itself as growth fibrous tissue in the gland itself and around it. The reason for this has not been fully established. An enlarged gland loses its ability to perform its functions. The pain is localized at the top of the Adam's apple, and medications practically do not eliminate it. Gradually, the growth thickens, provoking constant inflammation.

Timely treatment will eliminate unpleasant symptoms and completely eliminate the disease.

If violated hormonal function The thyroid gland begins to overproduce hormones. The body perceives them as antigens and begins to “fight” with them. This condition is called hyperthyroidism. It manifests itself as severe fatigue, frequent diarrhea, and allergies to cold. With insufficient production of hormones - hypothyroidism - a person also feels constantly tired and has frequent constipation.

Other reasons

A blow or suffocation can cause cartilage fractures. He is accompanied acute pain worse when coughing or swallowing. When pressed, the crunch of debris is clearly audible. The danger of this condition is the occurrence of asthmatic breathing, laryngeal edema, and emphysema.

At cervical osteochondrosis a bundle of blood vessels and nerves passing through the neck is subjected to compression. Due to this, muscles and ligaments begin to ache. As the disease progresses, swelling increases and the structure of the spine changes. TO clinical manifestations The diseases include soreness of the tissues below the Adam's apple, and bloody sputum appears when coughing. Drilling or Blunt pain usually worsens in the morning, manifests itself when turning the head, sneezing, laughing.

Patients with pulmonary tuberculosis often develop laryngeal tuberculosis. Its initial stage is asymptomatic. As the disease progresses, characteristic signs appear: chills, irritating cough, sputum, swelling of the larynx. A foreign body is constantly felt at the bottom of the Adam's apple. The voice becomes hoarse and may disappear completely over time.

When swallowing, the patient complains about the difficulty of passing food and saliva, as if something is in the way. A person cannot swallow food normally, so he loses a lot of weight. Severe disease leads to aspiration pneumonia. It is characterized by food entering the respiratory tract. Treatment of tuberculosis requires taking special drugs. For examination, contact a phthisiatrician, for consultation - an otolaryngologist.

Phlegmon

The activity of pyogenic bacteria in soft tissues leads to the accumulation of pus. Gradually, the inflammation spreads, covering an increasingly larger area. Characteristic feature this disease is her fast development. Sometimes only a couple of hours pass, the abscess blocks the respiratory canal, and the person suffocates. Symptoms of phlegmon:

fever, chills,
sharp pain
shortness of breath, difficulty breathing,
hoarseness of voice, often complete aphonia,
increased pain when turning the neck.

By palpating the Adam's apple area, you can feel a dense formation. It has no clear boundaries, is painful, the skin above it is shiny. Changing body position increases pain. Deep phlegmon usually progresses quickly and contributes to the onset of sepsis. The condition worsens sharply, pain covers the entire head (ears, temples, back of the head), swelling of the soft tissues increases. When the abscess breaks through, pus pours into the respiratory tract, causing acute inflammation.

Oncology

Quite rare, but at the same time one of the most dangerous diseases Thyroid cancer remains. Formed from gland tissue malignant tumor- nodule. It forms a small elevation under the skin. initial stage the disease does not manifest itself in any way. The only sign is that the lymph nodes in the neck are enlarged. Over time, the tumor grows and begins to put pressure on surrounding tissues. The person has difficulty swallowing, a feeling foreign body in the throat frequent cough, veins in the neck swell. When metastases cover the ligaments, the voice changes, becomes hoarse, hoarse, and disappears completely.

In humans with thyroid cancer, constant feeling as if he had choked on food or water.

As the tumor grows, it delivers more more problems. The pain intensifies, food has difficulty passing through the throat, and blood appears when coughing. A person has a constant feeling as if he is choking on food or water.

If your Adam's apple is sick, you should not ignore this symptom. Often he is the first to signal serious problems with health. The sooner a patient seeks help, the greater the chance of recovery and avoiding complications.

The Adam's apple is a protruding cartilage in the anterior wall of the larynx, consisting of 2 plates. In representatives of the stronger half of humanity, the angle located between the cartilaginous plates is small, so the Adam's apple protrudes noticeably forward, thereby protecting the throat from injury. Many factors in a man's body affect the size of the Adam's apple: for example, in children or women the larynx is smooth; and a large Adam’s apple in men depends on the physiological and anatomical characteristics of the person, and genetic predisposition.

Features of formation and structure

Many people don’t think about why men need an Adam’s apple: some believe that only the stronger half of humanity has an Adam’s apple. Misconceptions on this topic today there are quite a lot, but it is worth noting that the presence of an Adam’s apple is characteristic not only of men - female This feature of the larynx is also inherent.

This protrusion is also called the “Adam’s apple”: according to legend, it appeared in Adam when he tried the forbidden fruit. A piece of this fruit got stuck in his throat, and subsequently all men developed this feature of the larynx, symbolizing original sin.

The Adam's apple gradually begins to form in boys from the age of 14, but there are also examples when women have a pronounced Adam's apple.

There are operations to reduce the size of the Adam's apple, for example, chondrolaryngoplasty - usually it is often used by men who decide to change their gender.

Big Adam's apple in men, from an aesthetic point of view, many of its owners are not satisfied, and some even complain about painful sensations in the throat due to protruding large cartilage on the neck. Removing the Adam's apple can solve this problem.

Functionality of the Adam's apple

Let's figure out why the Adam's apple is needed? It performs important functions in the male body:

Protective factor – the larynx is a vulnerable part human body. Here are different nerve endings, vessels, organs respiratory system, digestive tract, which are protected from external influences by thin skin tissues. Therefore, the Adam's apple is a kind of protective device for the throat, it prevents it from being compressed, i.e. suffocation;
Voice formation - men's voices are lower and rougher than women's. This feature associated with the process of tension of the ligaments, it is formed during puberty gradually with an increase in the Adam’s apple;
Preventing saliva from entering the respiratory system.

Clinical picture

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Adam's apple pathologies

A blow to the Adam's apple can cause dangerous consequences for men's health, moreover, such injuries can provoke death. When a serious injury occurs, a signal is sent to the brain that activates the syncope reflex - the person falls into an unconscious state, myocardial contractions stop, and cardiac arrest occurs. That’s why it’s so important to prevent injuries in the Adam’s apple area.
Men often develop various pathologies which are associated with pain in the Adam's apple area:

Hyperthyroidism – increased production hormones in the thyroid gland. This process is characterized by increased sweating, tachycardia, diarrhea, and nervousness;
Hypothyroidism is decreased production of hormones. Characteristic signs this phenomenon - constipation, fatigue syndrome, cold intolerance;
Thyroiditis - this inflammatory process occurs in normal or acute form. The causative agents are infectious phenomena in respiratory tract. It is characterized by painful attacks in the Adam’s apple area, expansion of the thyroid gland, the occurrence of purulent neoplasms in the larynx;
Tuberculosis of the larynx, cancerous tumors– as tumor-like neoplasms increase, they will appear painful symptoms in the Adam's apple area, painful attacks are also possible when breathing, swallowing;
A fracture of the cartilaginous larynx is often the cause of pain. A blow to the Adam's apple can provoke this phenomenon, which will be characterized by difficulty breathing, painful sensations when swallowing or coughing;
Riedel's chronic fibrous thyroiditis - distinctive feature the process is the expansion of connective tissues near the “Adam's apple”, the thyroid gland enlarges, which causes pressure on the trachea and esophagus;
Laryngitis - occurs due to viral infectious phenomena, cold moments. Is inflammatory process in the larynx. Characterized by painful attacks in the Adam's apple area, dry cough. Swelling of the mucous tissues of the larynx occurs, which causes compression of the throat.

Any patient complaint about pain in the “Adam’s apple” area should be examined in detail by a doctor, with a diagnosis of the disease and clarification of the diagnosis. It is strictly forbidden to self-medicate in this situation.

Surgical methods of correction

Today there are surgical methods modifications of the “Adam’s apple”:

Complete removal of the Adam's apple - performed in situations where the removal of cartilage does not cause complications or other dangerous consequences. Subsequently, it provokes a change in vocal timbre. But these changes are irreversible - increasing cartilage after removal has already been done will be an impossible process;
Partial removal - performed by a doctor if the possibility is not allowed complete removal Adam's apple. During the operation, the surgeon changes the angle of the cartilage plates, i.e. modifies the position of the Adam's apple with male type on the female form, as in the photo. The surgical intervention performed is less traumatic, but not always taking into account different circumstances it leads to a modification of the male voice.

Any way surgical intervention in the Adam's apple area, removal of the Adam's apple must be performed after thorough examination. How much will this cost? operative method, it is necessary to clarify this with a doctor at the place where the process is performed.

At school they carefully explained how the heart and brain work, what functions the lungs and kidneys perform. But they hardly told us why the Adam’s apple was needed. As a result, many adults have no idea about the functions of this part of the body. Many people are generally mistaken: they believe that this is a sign of a man’s sexual strength or that women do not have such a part of the body. Let's understand true purpose, structure, functions, sizes of the “Adam’s apple”...

Structure and features

What does the Adam's apple represent for men? Externally, this part of the body looks like a lump protruding from the throat. When swallowing it moves. There is a misconception: the Adam's apple is part of the thyroid gland. This is mistake. The protrusion on the throat has nothing to do with the gland, but is the thyroid cartilage surrounding the larynx. The structure is quite simple - it includes double cartilaginous plates connected under:

Right angle (in adults, genital mature men).
Obtuse angle (in small children, women, some men with an invisible “Adam's apple”).

Thus, the Adam's apple exists in all people, regardless of gender and age. It’s just that in representatives of the stronger sex it is larger and more noticeable. In small children and women, the throat lump is “hidden”.

By the way, in children of both sexes until puberty, the throat looks the same. After reaching adolescence, boys develop a cartilaginous lump that increases throughout puberty. In sexually mature men, the lump does not increase (it can only harden, become less mobile, which is associated with compaction cartilage tissue). And vice versa - if before the end of puberty male Adam's apple If he didn’t start appearing, then he won’t appear at 25-30 years old.

Main functions

Why do men and women have an Adam's apple? And in general, do you need an Adam's apple or is it a rudiment, without which a person can live in peace? The Adam's apple is needed - it protects the throat and is involved in the formation of the voice:

Protection of the throat (larynx, thyroid gland, vocal cords) from physical damage. When struck, the load first goes directly to the cartilaginous bump - it is painful, but not fatal.
Participation in voice education. Here necessary elements, stretching the vocal cords. It has been noticed: the larger a man’s Adam’s apple, the rougher his voice. Women have a thinner and higher-pitched voice because this part of the body is less pronounced. IN adolescence in boys, the voice changes - the Adam's apple changes the angle of connection, the voice becomes rougher, and begins to stretch the vocal cords differently).

Connection with potency

There is an opinion: a bulging Adam's apple in guys is a sign of strong potency. This is only partly true. Formation in puberty depends on testosterone levels. The more intensely it stands out male hormone, the more pronounced the throat bump will be. Potency also depends on testosterone. When a man becomes an adult, his Adam's apple stops changing, and the level of the hormone can fluctuate, and, accordingly, potency becomes worse. That is, the connection with sexual functionality can be traced in adolescence, but in mature men the relationship is lost.

When the lump on the throat is invisible

There are cases when in men the Adam's apple is invisible and the neck is straight. In fact, it is there, it was just formed at an obtuse angle. There are two more reasons why men may have a smooth throat:

If representatives of the stronger sex have a large layer of fat on the neck, it will seem that there is no Adam's apple.
During puberty, the young man produced little testosterone - as a rule, such a guy will have a high-pitched voice.

Visual absence of a protruding Adam's apple in a man (in the absence of other alarming symptoms) is not a sign of pathology - it is considered physical feature buildings.

Overhang too big

A large cartilaginous lump on the throat is dangerous, should it be removed? A large Adam's apple in men, as well as a small cartilaginous bump on the throat, is not a deviation, it's just that the cartilaginous formation has grown together at a sharper or more obtuse angle. There are no standards by which it can be determined that this part of the human body sticks out too much or too little.

If an adult man notices that his Adam's apple has begun to grow larger, an urgent need to visit a doctor - after puberty, the cartilaginous protrusion cannot increase. Changes in the size of the throat can mean inflammation or tumors, an urgent need to diagnose, start treatment.

A person should know about his body, if not everything, then at least as much as possible. More from school course we learn how the heart and brain work, what functions are assigned to the liver and kidneys, how oxygen enters the lungs and is distributed throughout the body, and so on. However, many of us do not even suspect why a person needs it and why the Adam’s apple is clearly pronounced in men, unlike in women.

Article outline

What is a kadik?

Of course, the vast majority of people, even in adolescence or even adolescence, find out what kind of protrusion is so visible on their father’s throat. Parents explain that this is the Adam’s apple, however, not everyone can clearly explain why our body needs this element, and even more so, why it is so visible in men and not in women.

Everything is quite simple - the male Adam's apple, or as it is also called the Adam's apple, is two fused cartilages covering soft fabrics and some organs of the throat. In representatives of the stronger sex, these cartilages grow together in a special way, at right angles.

Exactly because of this reason given element so clearly visible, especially if physiological characteristics arranged so that the cartilages grew together at a particularly acute angle.

As for them, their Adam's apple is almost never visible externally, since the cartilages grow together not at an acute angle, but at an obtuse one. This phenomenon has given rise to many tales and rumors that women do not have an Adam’s apple, however, this is just an unfounded misconception that has no evidence.

Adam's apple functions

As for the functions of the Adam's apple, why it is given to us by nature, and so on, then everything is just as extremely simple. Those fused at the front wall of the throat are a rather rigid plate that hardens more with each passing year.

If we consider the purpose of this plate, then it performs a number of extremely important functions:

, thyroid gland and vocal cords from possible external damage. That is, if a person suddenly receives a blow to the throat, becomes a victim of suffocation, or there are any other force loads on the front of the neck, then a cartilage plate can completely save a life, then there will definitely be no questions about why it is needed.
The second is extremely important function falls into the category of voice education. The point here is that the Adam's apple in both men and women takes a direct part in speaking. That is, when we want to say something, the vocal cords are stretched due to the element being discussed, thus taking part in the formation of speech. For the same reason, as boys grow up, their voice “breaks,” becoming rougher. “Breakage” occurs due to the fact that the Adam’s apple begins to take on a more acute angle, hardening and straining the vocal cords more strongly.

Biblical opinion

Speaking about why the Adam's apple is not visible in women, but vice versa in men, this fact has its own interpretation in the Old Testament. It says that when Adam ate the forbidden fruit, a piece of the fruit got stuck in his throat, forming that same visible protrusion. However, the Old Testament does not say why the piece remained in the throat, so few people take this opinion seriously.

Conclusion

As can be seen from everything written above, the male Adam's apple is a rather important part of the body, and not an ordinary protrusion on the throat, which is not clear why it is needed. Protective functions throat and a rather large role in the formation of speech assigned to the Adam's apple, both in men and women, so all this information is a direct answer to the questions why and why.

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