You’ve probably stared at a guy’s neck at some point and wondered why there’s a bony little lump jumping up and down when he talks. Then you look in the mirror. Nothing. Or, maybe just a smooth line. It leads to the age-old question: why don't women have adams apples?
Except, here’s the kicker. They do.
Honestly, every single human being born with a larynx has one. It’s not some weird "male-only" bone that sprouts during puberty like a beard. It’s actually just cartilage. Specifically, it’s the thyroid cartilage that wraps around your voice box. If you didn't have one, you wouldn't be able to speak, breathe properly, or protect those delicate vocal cords. So, the real mystery isn't why women don't have them—it's why they're so much harder to see.
The Anatomy of a Bump
Let's get clinical for a second, but not too boring. The "Adam's apple" is technically the laryngeal prominence.
During puberty, everyone's larynx grows. It’s part of getting older. But boys get hit with a massive surge of testosterone that sends the growth of this cartilage into overdrive. It’s not just about size, though. It’s about the angle.
Think of the thyroid cartilage like a shield. In girls, this shield usually stays at a wider angle—about 120 degrees. It’s rounded. Smooth. It sits flat against the neck. In guys, that testosterone surge causes the two plates of cartilage to fuse at a much sharper angle, usually around 90 degrees.
That 90-degree angle is what creates the protrusion. It’s like the difference between a gentle hill and a sharp mountain peak. The peak sticks out. The hill just blends into the landscape.
Size matters, but hormones matter more
Biology is kind of a trip. The larynx houses your vocal cords. As the "box" gets bigger, the cords get longer and thicker. Imagine a guitar. If you put thick, heavy strings on it, you get a deep, resonant bass sound. That’s exactly what happens to men. The bigger the Adam’s apple, the longer the vocal cords, and the deeper the voice.
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Women’s vocal cords stay shorter and thinner. Because the housing (the larynx) doesn’t need to expand as much to accommodate those cords, the cartilage doesn't need to jut out. It’s efficient.
Why Some Women Do Have Visible Adam’s Apples
You might have noticed some women actually have a visible bump. It’s more common than people think. No, it doesn't mean they have "too much testosterone" or some medical "glitch."
Sometimes it’s just genetics.
Just like some people have big noses or long toes, some women simply have a more prominent laryngeal structure. If a woman has a very thin neck or very little body fat in that area, the cartilage is naturally going to show through the skin more clearly. It’s basic physics.
There’s also the "angle" factor again. While 120 degrees is the average for females, some women might have a sharper fusion of that cartilage. It’s just a variation of normal human anatomy. Dr. Steven Zeitels, a famous laryngologist who has treated stars like Adele, has often noted that the "normal" range for human anatomy is incredibly broad. What we see as a "male trait" is often just a point on a spectrum.
Medical conditions and hormonal shifts
In some cases, a visible bump in a woman's neck isn't an Adam's apple at all.
- Thyroid Nodules: This is a big one. The thyroid gland sits right below the larynx. If it develops a cyst or a nodule, it can look like an Adam's apple.
- Goiters: An enlarged thyroid (often from iodine deficiency, though rare in the West now) can cause swelling.
- Hormonal Imbalances: Conditions like Polycystic Ovary Syndrome (PCOS) can cause higher testosterone levels, which might lead to a slightly more pronounced larynx if the shift happens during developmental years.
The Mythology of the Name
Why do we even call it an Adam's apple? It sounds like something out of a folk tale because it is.
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The name comes from the biblical story of the Garden of Eden. The legend goes that when Adam ate the forbidden fruit, a piece of the apple got stuck in his throat. God then made the lump permanent as a reminder of the sin.
It’s a cool story. It’s also completely unscientific.
Interestingly, the term doesn't appear in ancient medical texts. In Latin, it was called the pomum Adami. Some linguists actually think it might be a mistranslation of a Hebrew term tappuach ha'adam, which means "male protuberance." Somewhere along the line, "tappuach" (which can mean apple) got literal, and the fruit-in-the-throat myth was born.
Surgery and "Shaving" the Bone
Because the Adam's apple is such a strong gender marker in our society, many people choose to change how it looks. This is particularly common in the trans community, but cisgender women with prominent bumps sometimes seek it out too.
The procedure is called a Chondrolaryngoplasty, or more commonly, a "tracheal shave."
It’s a delicate surgery. A surgeon makes a small incision—often in a natural crease of the neck to hide the scar—and literally shaves down the thyroid cartilage. They have to be incredibly careful. If they shave off too much, they could compromise the structural integrity of the larynx or, worse, nick the vocal cords.
One wrong move and the patient's voice could be permanently changed. It’s why you don’t just go to any plastic surgeon for this; you go to someone who specializes in laryngeal surgery.
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Misconceptions That Just Won’t Die
We need to clear some things up. There are so many weird myths floating around the internet about this.
- "Women don't have a larynx." Total nonsense. If you didn't have a larynx, you couldn't talk or breathe. Everyone has one.
- "A visible Adam's apple on a woman means she's trans." Not necessarily. As we discussed, genetic variation, body fat percentage, and thyroid issues can all cause a visible bump in cisgender women.
- "You can grow one later in life." Not really. Once the cartilage hardens (calcifies) after puberty, the shape is pretty much set. It doesn't just start growing when you're 40.
What to Do If You're Concerned About a Lump
If you’re a woman and you’ve suddenly noticed a bump in your neck that wasn't there before, don't just assume it's your "Adam's apple" finally showing up.
Go to a doctor.
Since the thyroid gland sits right in that "splash zone," a new lump could be a sign of something that needs attention. A simple ultrasound can tell the difference between normal cartilage and a thyroid nodule. Most of the time, it's nothing. But it’s worth checking.
Actionable Steps for Understanding Your Anatomy
Knowing your body is the first step toward stop stressing about "weird" traits.
- Feel the structure: Place your fingers on the center of your neck and swallow. You'll feel the larynx move up and down. That's your Adam's apple at work.
- Check for changes: If you notice a lump that moves separately from your voice box when you swallow, that's a sign to see a GP or an endocrinologist.
- Audit your posture: Sometimes, what looks like a prominent Adam's apple is actually "forward head posture." When your neck juts forward, the internal structures are pushed against the skin. Improving your posture can actually "smooth" the appearance of the neck.
- Understand the "Angle": If you’re self-conscious about a prominent neck, remember it’s often just a result of a lean frame. Increasing your neck's muscular support through gentle exercises can sometimes soften the visual transition.
The reality is that why don't women have adams apples is a question based on a false premise. We all have them. Men just happen to wear theirs on their sleeves—or rather, their necks. It’s a small anatomical quirk driven by hormones, not a fundamental difference in our "equipment." Whether yours is hidden under a layer of soft tissue or sticks out like a "mountain peak," it’s doing the heavy lifting of keeping you breathing and talking every single day.