Do you have this lump on your neck too? Let's talk about the Adam's Apple!

Have you ever looked at your older sibling, a school teacher, or an actor on TV and thought, "Oh, what's that lump on the top of their neck?" You've probably noticed it go up and down, especially when they drink water. When other friends your age don't have one, you might think, "What's this?" Don't worry, it's very normal. Today, we're going to talk about the so-called "Adam's Apple."

What is this lump protruding from the top of my throat?

Simply put, that lump that you see protruding from the front of your throat is what we call the `(Adam's Apple)`. Some people see it a little bigger, some people see it a little smaller. Sometimes girls can have it very slightly, but most of the time it is clearly visible in boys and older men. So why does this happen? Let's find out about it.

Our voice box, or larynx, which produces the voice

To understand this `(Adam's Apple)`, we first need to know about a very important part of our throat. That is the vocal cords, or in English, the `(Larynx)`. Some people also call it the ``voice box``. As the name suggests, this is the main organ that helps us talk, sing, laugh, whisper, and shout, and that creates our voice.

You too can find your `(Larynx)`. Do this: Hold the front of your neck with your hand and make a "mmmm" sound. Then your fingers will feel some vibrations. That's where your `(Larynx)` is located. This is a small box-like part made of something called `cartilage`. Inside this is where our `(Larynx)` is. When we breathe and speak, these vocal cords vibrate one by one to create sound.

Think about it, these vocal cords are like the strings of a guitar. We create sound by making the strings vibrate one by one. That's how our ``Larynx'' works.

Puberty and these changes

Now you have a question, "So how does this `(Larynx)` become that `(Adam's Apple)`?" The reason for this is puberty, or what we call it in English, the period of `(Puberty)`.

When children grow up and reach adolescence, that is, during `(Puberty)`, many big changes occur in their bodies and even their minds. They grow taller, their bodies develop, and in some places, they get hair. In the same way, almost every part of our body grows and changes shape during this time. One of those parts that grows is our `(Larynx)`, that is, the voice box.

During puberty, the larynx, especially in boys, grows significantly larger. As it grows, it protrudes slightly forward into the throat. That protruding part of the larynx is what we call the Adam's Apple.

Why do only boys see this as a big deal?

Everyone's `(Larynx)` grows during `(Puberty)`. However, the `(Larynx)` of boys grows much more than the `(Larynx)` of girls. The main reason for this is the hormone called `(Testosterone)` that is produced in the body of boys during this period. It is because of this hormone that the `(Larynx)` becomes larger and the voice becomes hoarse.

So, because the `(Larynx)` of boys is much larger, it protrudes more. That's why boys have an `(Adam's Apple)`.

And what about girls?

Most of the time, girls don't have a clear Adam's Apple because their larynx isn't as big as boys. However, some girls can have a very small, barely visible Adam's Apple. There's nothing wrong with this. It's also very normal. There's no need to make a big deal out of it.

Why is this called the 'Adam's Apple'?

You must be wondering how this got its name, ``Adam's Apple''? This is actually a name that is related to a religious story. You must have heard the story of Adam and Eve. You must have heard the story of Adam eating a ``forbidden fruit'' that God had told him not to eat in the ``Garden of Eden''.

So, some believe that when Adam ate the forbidden fruit – some say it was an apple – a piece of it got stuck in his throat. It is an old belief that this lump in the throat is called ``Adam's Apple'' in memory of that incident. It is also possible that this lump sometimes looks like a small, round apple under the skin of the throat, which is why it got its name. However, that is the story of the name.

Voice changes – a deeper voice and voice cracking

Another result of the enlargement of the ``larynx'' is a change in voice, especially in boys.

As the `(Larynx)` grows, the vocal cords inside it also grow longer and thicker. Think about how the sound deepens when you use ``thicker strings`` on a guitar. It's the same. As the vocal cords grow, the voice also deepens, meaning the voice becomes heavier or hoarse. This is the main reason why boys' voices change during ``(Puberty)``.

In fact, since girls' larynx grows a little larger, their voices also become slightly deeper. But since boys' larynx grows much larger, the difference in their voices is more pronounced.

So what does this voice breaking mean?

You've probably heard that when a young boy speaks, his voice suddenly becomes hoarse, like a baby's voice. Some people call this "voice cracking." This is because the larynx suddenly becomes larger.

Imagine, when you are used to riding a small bike and suddenly go on a big bike, it is a little awkward at first, it is difficult to control properly. That's how it is. The `(Larynx)` suddenly gets bigger, and it takes some time to `adjust` to the new size. During that adjustment, that strange sound, high tones (`squeaky voice`) come out in the voice. This is also very normal, the voice stabilizes after a while.

So, the `(Adam's Apple)` refers to the fact that the `(Larynx)` of boys becomes larger and protrudes forward from the throat during puberty. This is a very natural thing.

The most important things we need to remember (Take-Home Message)

Okay, so we've talked a lot about the `(Adam's Apple)` today, haven't we? I think you have a good understanding of this now. Finally, let's remind ourselves of these important points again:

• The ``Adam's Apple'' refers to the protruding part of the larynx that develops during puberty.
• This is more common in boys , because their ``larynx'' grows much larger than in girls.
• Some girls may also have a small ``Adam's Apple'' , and there is nothing abnormal about it.
• As the ``Adam's Apple'' develops, the boys' voices deepen.
• As your voice adjusts to the size of your new larynx, it may sometimes feel like it's cracking. This is normal and will go away in a few days.
• This is not a disease or anything to be afraid of. It is just part of a natural process that everyone's body goes through as they grow older.

So, the next time you see someone's ``Adam's Apple'', you now know what it is and why it develops. It's great to know about things like this, isn't it? If you have any more questions, be sure to ask a doctor, parent, or teacher.

` Adam's Apple, Throat, Vocal Cord, Larynx, Puberty, Voice Change, Boys