Have you ever noticed that some guys have a noticeable bump in the front of their neck that moves when they swallow? You might be wondering what that is and why only guys seem to have it. Let’s dive into the science behind this interesting feature called the Adam’s apple.
This bump is related to a part of your body called the larynx, often referred to as your voice box. Everyone has a larynx, and it plays a crucial role in how we speak, laugh, whisper, sing, and even shout. To feel your larynx, gently place your fingers on the front of your throat and hum. The vibrations you feel are coming from your larynx!
During puberty, a time of significant growth and change for both boys and girls, the larynx grows larger. In boys, this growth is more substantial than in girls. As the larynx gets bigger, it protrudes forward in the neck, creating what we recognize as an Adam’s apple. So, the Adam’s apple is essentially the enlarged larynx pushing out at the front of the throat. While everyone experiences larynx growth during puberty, it’s more prominent in males, which is why boys are more likely to have visible Adam’s apples. It’s perfectly normal for boys to have them, and some girls might have a slightly visible one too, which is also completely fine.
You might be curious about the name “Adam’s apple.” Interestingly, it comes from the biblical story of Adam and Eve in the Garden of Eden. The tale goes that when Adam ate the forbidden fruit, it got stuck in his throat, creating this lump. While it’s just a story, the Adam’s apple does sometimes resemble a small, rounded apple shape just beneath the skin of the throat.
The growth of the larynx in boys during puberty isn’t just about creating an Adam’s apple; it’s also the reason why guys’ voices get deeper. As the larynx grows, the vocal cords inside also lengthen and thicken. This larger voice box and vocal cords produce lower sound frequencies, resulting in a deeper voice. Girls’ voices also deepen slightly during puberty as their larynxes grow, but the change is much less dramatic because their larynxes don’t grow as much as boys’.
If you’ve ever heard a teenage boy’s voice crack or squeak, that’s because his larynx is still growing and adjusting. It’s like his voice box is trying to get used to its new, larger size! Voice changes and the development of an Adam’s apple are all normal parts of growing up for guys, signifying the amazing transformations happening during puberty.
