The Adam's apple is the lump of cartilage that protrudes from the throat.
"Adam's apple," as described by Merriam-Webster, is a derivative of a Latin term that translates into English as a pomegranate–an apple-sized fruit with red, dense flesh.
The Adam's apple serves no function other than to protect the larynx from injury, according to MedicalNewsToday.com. Also known as the "laryngeal prominence," it is composed of cartilage, the muscular connective tissue that sustains the neck and other parts of the body.
More commonly known as the voice box, the larynx is located at the front of the neck, where its vocal cords vibrate to produce the sounds of voice. Along with the mouth and nasal passages, it also protects the airways during swallowing.
Although every person's larynx grows during puberty, the girl's doesn't increase as much as a boy's. As the larynx increases in size, it forces the Adam's apple outward. As a result, men have more prominent Adam's apples than women.
Some conditions, however, may cause swelling in a person's Adam's apple, larynx, or other areas of the neck that may indicate a more serious condition. Among these are laryngitis (inflammation of the larynx pharyngitis in the back of the throat), laryngeal, and thyroid cancer.
Treatment for an enlarged Adam's apple varies according to the cause. These may require such medications as antibiotics or corticosteroids. If the diagnosis is cancerous, treatment can include surgery, radiation therapy, or chemotherapy.
Surgery can either reduce or enlarge an Adam's apple.
Increasing the size of an Adam's apple is performed by transplanting cartilage from other areas of the body. Reducing excess cartilage from the area around the thyroid will make it smaller.
