You've probably spent a good chunk of your life thinking that the "Adam's apple" is some kind of exclusive badge of masculinity. It's one of those playground facts that just sticks. Boys get deep voices and a weird neck lump; girls don't. Simple, right?
Well, not really.
The short answer is yes. Girls have them. Everyone has them. Whether you can actually see it depends on a mix of genetics, cartilage angles, and a bit of hormonal luck during puberty. If you're scanning your own neck in the mirror right now and feeling a little bump, don't freak out. You aren't "weird," and there isn't something medically wrong. You just have a larynx.
The anatomy of why do girls have adams apples anyway
To understand why this myth persists, we have to look at what that bump actually is. It's not a bone. It’s not a fruit—despite the name. It is officially called the laryngeal prominence.
Basically, your larynx (your voice box) is protected by several plates of thyroid cartilage. Think of it like a little suit of armor for your vocal cords. In children, this cartilage is shaped similarly for both boys and girls. It sits there, doing its job, usually invisible under a layer of soft tissue.
Then puberty hits.
When a person goes through a testosterone-dominant puberty, that cartilage grows significantly. It doesn't just get bigger; it tilts. In most men, the two plates of thyroid cartilage meet at a sharp 90-degree angle. That sharp "V" pushes outward against the skin. That's the classic Adam’s apple.
In women—or anyone with an estrogen-dominant puberty—the growth is much more subtle. The cartilage plates usually meet at a wider, more rounded 120-degree angle. Because the angle is so much flatter, the bump stays flush with the neck. It's there, but it’s hiding.
Why visibility varies so much
Why can you see it on some women but not others? It's usually down to body fat percentage and neck length. A very lean woman with a long neck is much more likely to have a visible laryngeal prominence than someone with more subcutaneous fat or a shorter neck structure.
Genetics also play a huge role. Some women naturally have slightly larger thyroid cartilage. It’s just like how some people have big noses or attached earlobes. It is a physical trait, not a gender marker.
Common misconceptions about the female Adam's apple
I’ve heard people claim that a visible bump on a woman’s neck means she has high testosterone or an underlying hormonal imbalance. Honestly, that’s usually nonsense. While extreme hormonal shifts can affect the voice, the physical structure of the cartilage, once it’s set after puberty, doesn't just "pop out" because you had a stressful week.
- It’s not an "extra" part. Everyone is born with the framework.
- It doesn't affect your health. Having a visible one doesn't make you more prone to thyroid issues.
- It’s not just for men.
Let's talk about the thyroid gland for a second. Sometimes people mistake a swollen thyroid (a goiter) for an Adam's apple. This is where it actually matters. A laryngeal prominence is high up, right where the neck bends. The thyroid gland is lower down, closer to where your collarbones meet. If you see a lump at the base of your neck that moves when you swallow, that's something to see a doctor about. But that hard little bump right under your chin? That’s just your voice box.
The surgery side of things: Chondrolaryngoplasty
For some people, the visibility of this cartilage causes significant distress. In the world of gender-affirming care, there is a procedure called a "tracheal shave," or chondrolaryngoplasty.
Surgeons like Dr. Harrison Lee, who is well-known in the facial feminization surgery (FFS) community, perform this by literally shaving down the excess cartilage. It’s a delicate process. If you shave too much, you can actually destabilize the vocal cords and permanently change the voice. It's a vivid reminder that this "bump" isn't just an aesthetic feature—it's a structural necessity for speaking.
On the flip side, some people seek "masculinization" of the neck. This involves a procedure called thyroplasty, where surgeons use implants to create the appearance of a more prominent Adam's apple. It’s fascinating how much weight we put on a few millimeters of cartilage.
When to actually worry about a neck lump
If you’re a girl and you’ve noticed a new bump that wasn't there before, you should pay attention. While we've established that do girls have adams apples is a biological yes, a new growth is different.
- Is it midline? A laryngeal prominence is perfectly centered. If the lump is off to the side, it might be a lymph node reacting to an infection or something more serious.
- Does it move? The larynx moves up and down when you swallow.
- Is it soft or hard? Cartilage is firm but has a tiny bit of "give." A rock-hard, unmoving lump needs a professional look.
- Are there other symptoms? Hoarseness, trouble swallowing, or a persistent cough are red flags.
Dr. Eric Genden, a specialist at Mount Sinai, often notes that while many neck lumps are benign cysts (like a thyroglossal duct cyst), they can easily be mistaken for the Adam's apple by someone who is suddenly hyper-focused on their anatomy.
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Real-world examples and celebrities
Think about stars like Sandra Bullock or Meg Ryan. If you look closely at certain angles, you can see the outline of their larynx. It doesn't make them look "masculine"—it just looks like a human neck.
In the fashion world, high-fashion models often have very prominent neck structures because of their low body fat. It’s actually become a bit of a "look." We’ve spent so long airbrushing women’s necks in magazines that we’ve forgotten what real anatomy looks like. Necks aren't smooth cylinders. They are complex stacks of muscle, vein, and cartilage.
Actionable steps for your health
If you are concerned about your neck or just curious about your anatomy, here is how to handle it:
- Perform a self-exam. Sit in front of a mirror and swallow. Watch how the structures in your neck move. This helps you get a "baseline" for what is normal for your body.
- Check the location. Feel for the "notch" at the top of your thyroid cartilage. This is the "V" shape. If your bump is right there, it’s almost certainly your Adam’s apple.
- Consult a specialist if it changes. If you notice your voice changing or the lump getting larger, skip the general practitioner and go straight to an ENT (Ear, Nose, and Throat doctor). They have the scopes to see exactly what’s happening with your vocal cords.
- Stop the "voice training" scams. If you're trying to hide a visible Adam's apple, be wary of "exercises" that claim to shrink it. You cannot exercise away cartilage. Focus on posture or, if it truly bothers you, consult a board-certified plastic surgeon.
The bottom line is that the human body is a lot more varied than textbooks suggest. We like to put things in boxes—blue for boys, pink for girls—but biology doesn't care about our boxes. Girls have Adam's apples because girls have voices, and those voices need a place to live. If yours is a little more visible than the next person's, it’s just a variation of the human form. Nothing more, nothing less.