Ever looked at a woman and noticed a slight bump in her throat? You probably thought it was just a quirk of anatomy. Or maybe you've been told for years that only men have that distinct protrusion in the neck. Honestly, that’s a total myth. If you’ve ever wondered do women have adam’s apples too, the short answer is a resounding yes. Every single human being with a larynx has one. It’s just how we’re built.
It's weird how we gender parts of the body that are basically universal. We call it an "Adam's apple," a name rooted in the biblical story of the Garden of Eden, implying it's a uniquely male trait. But biologically? It's just cartilage. It’s the thyroid cartilage, to be specific. It wraps around your voice box like a shield. Everyone needs a voice box. Therefore, everyone has the shield.
The difference isn't about presence. It's about prominence.
The Science of Why They Usually Look Different
During puberty, testosterone does a lot of heavy lifting in the male body. One of its primary targets is the larynx. As boys go through puberty, their larynx grows significantly larger than a girl's larynx. Because the voice box expands, the thyroid cartilage—that "Adam's apple"—has to tilt forward to make room. This creates a sharper angle. Think of it like a tent pole pushing against a fabric. If the pole is longer and angled more steeply, the bump is more obvious.
In women, the larynx doesn't grow nearly as much. The angle of the thyroid cartilage stays wider, usually around 120 degrees. In men, that angle can sharpen to about 90 degrees. That’s the "bump" you see.
But here’s the thing: some women naturally have a more prominent thyroid cartilage. It can be due to genetics, hormonal imbalances during puberty, or just having a very thin neck where the underlying structure is more visible. It doesn't mean anything is "wrong." It’s just a variation of the human form. Dr. Melin Tan-Gatue, an endocrinologist, often points out that anatomical variations are the norm, not the exception. Physical traits exist on a spectrum.
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When a Bump Isn't an Adam's Apple
Sometimes, what looks like a prominent Adam's apple in a woman isn't actually the larynx at all. This is where you have to pay attention. If you suddenly notice a new bump or a change in the contour of your neck, it might not be your "Adam's apple" finally making an appearance.
It could be a goiter. That’s an enlarged thyroid gland. The thyroid sits just below the Adam’s apple, and when it swells—often due to iodine deficiency or Hashimoto’s disease—it can create a very similar silhouette. There are also thyroglossal duct cysts. These are fluid-filled sacs that develop from cells left over from the thyroid's descent during fetal development. They usually show up right in the midline of the neck.
Then there’s the "pseudonodule." Sometimes, just the way a person’s neck muscles sit can make the cartilage look more pronounced. Or, if someone loses a significant amount of weight, the lack of subcutaneous fat makes every anatomical landmark pop.
Why the Name Stuck
The term "Adam's apple" is technically pomum Adami. Legend says a piece of the forbidden fruit got stuck in Adam's throat. It’s a great story. It’s also completely unscientific. In the medical world, doctors just call it the laryngeal prominence.
If you look at the anatomy of professional singers, you’ll notice they are incredibly in tune with this part of their body. Sopranos and basses alike rely on the positioning of the thyroid cartilage to control pitch and resonance. In some vocal techniques, "tilting" the thyroid cartilage is a conscious move to access the "head voice." So, for women in the performing arts, their Adam’s apple is a vital tool they use every single day.
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Medical Interventions: Reduction and Augmentation
Because society has tied the Adam's apple so closely to masculinity, it’s often a focal point for gender-affirming healthcare.
Chondrolaryngoplasty—more commonly known as a "tracheal shave"—is a procedure where a surgeon literally shaves down the thyroid cartilage. It’s a common surgery for trans women or cisgender women who feel their laryngeal prominence is too masculine. It’s a delicate procedure. If you shave off too much, you risk compromising the structural integrity of the larynx or permanently changing the voice.
On the flip side, some people seek out Adam’s apple augmentation. This involves using implants or cartilage grafts to create a more "masculine" profile.
It’s fascinating how much weight we put on a few millimeters of cartilage. We’ve turned a protective shield for our vocal cords into a symbol of identity.
Common Myths That Just Won't Die
You've probably heard that if a woman has an Adam's apple, she has "too much testosterone." That’s not necessarily true. While testosterone drives the growth of the larynx, a visible bump can simply be a result of your skeletal structure. If you have a narrow neck and a high-sitting larynx, it’s going to show.
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Another myth: "Only men have deep voices because of the Adam's apple."
Nope.
A deep voice is caused by the length and thickness of the vocal folds inside the larynx. While a larger larynx (and thus a bigger Adam's apple) usually houses longer vocal folds, the external bump isn't the "speaker" making the sound.
The Reality of Body Diversity
Honestly, we need to stop acting like bodies are standardized parts from a factory. They aren't. Some women have broad shoulders. Some men have wide hips. Some women have visible thyroid cartilage.
If you’re a woman and you’re self-conscious about a bump in your neck, take a second to breathe. Look at high-fashion models. Many of them have very prominent neck structures because of their low body fat percentages. It’s often considered a striking, "sculpted" feature in the world of photography.
What to Watch For
If you are concerned about a protrusion in your neck, don't just assume it's "just an Adam's apple." Check for these signs:
- Does the bump move when you swallow? (The larynx and thyroid gland should move up and down).
- Is it hard or soft? (Cartilage is firm; cysts are often softer).
- Is it accompanied by a hoarse voice or difficulty swallowing?
- Is it off-center?
If any of those are a "yes," it’s time to see an ENT (Ear, Nose, and Throat specialist). They can do a quick ultrasound to see exactly what’s going on under the skin.
Practical Steps for Moving Forward
Understanding your anatomy is the first step toward body neutrality. You don't have to love every part of your throat, but knowing that do women have adam's apples too is a biological "yes" can take the sting out of the stigma.
- Check for changes: Perform a simple neck palpation. If a bump is new or growing, see a doctor. This is about health, not aesthetics.
- Consult an ENT if you’re bothered: If the prominence of your larynx causes genuine distress or gender dysphoria, specialized surgeons can discuss the risks and benefits of a tracheal shave.
- Ignore the "gendered" labels: Shift your mindset. It’s a laryngeal prominence. It protects your ability to speak, breathe, and sing.
- Hydrate your vocal cords: Regardless of how big your Adam's apple is, the cartilage works better when the surrounding tissues are hydrated. Drink your water.
- Monitor thyroid health: Since the thyroid gland sits right nearby, ensure you’re getting regular check-ups, especially if you have a family history of thyroid issues. A "visible Adam's apple" in women is frequently a misidentified thyroid nodule.
The human body is a weird, complex machine. It doesn't always follow the "rules" we see in textbooks or on TV. Having a visible laryngeal prominence as a woman is just a variation of the norm—a bit of cartilage doing its job to protect the voice that lets you tell your own story.