Situated at the top of the windpipe, what is commonly known as the "Adam's Apple" is part of the larynx ("voice box").The larynx is a more or less rigid "box" created by a framework of cartilages connected by ligaments. The most important of these cartilages is the thyroid, which is what forms the prominence called "Adam's Apple." The vocal cords, which are two fibrous bands anchored fore and aft, are suspended in the larynx. The vocal chords are heavier and thicker in men than in women, which makes the thyroid cartilage more pronounced in men. The term "Adam's Apple" pays homage to the once common belief that the structure is unique to men, and that it marks the place where the apple given by Eve to Adam got stuck.

Questions or comments about this page?

This page was last updated on 01/20/2018.