Why don't women have a nut?

The well-known Adam's apple or apple does not seem to exist in women. It is known by this name because it is said to be the part of the forbidden fruit that Adam ate and that being the reason for being expelled from paradise, it has remained there as a memory of its crass and mythical error.

However, this fact does not appear in the Bible, so it is a myth, as is the claim that women do not have a nut. Indeed, women do have a walnut, what happens is that it is not as noticeable as that of men.

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Why don't women have a nut?

This so-called walnut is a cartilage that covers the larynx, and we all have it. Women also have that cartilage, despite its size and position that make it much less visible.For this reason it is believed that women do not have a nut.

This cartilage fulfills a specific function and in that function lies the reason why in men this nut is very evident and in women it seems to be hidden. We explain here what this nut in the throat is and what its function is.

What is the Adam's apple?

The Adam's apple or Adam's apple is a bump located on the front of the neck. Its scientific name is laryngeal prominence. It is about two sheets of thyroid cartilage that is found specifically in the larynx and that surrounds it, this position produces a bulge that exists in both men and women.

The own structure that is formed with this protrusion causes a relief, in some men it is very deep and noticeable, in others it is not so, and in most women it is practically invisible or difficult to see with the naked eye sight. For this reason it is often said that women do not have a walnut, but as already explained, we do have it but it is much less bulky and, therefore, less noticeable.

The reason that the nut is more visible in men is because in men this double cartilage articulates in a 90 ° position, while in women it extends at an angle of 120 °. This means that it forms a more open arch around the larynx. In addition, by nature, women have a higher concentration of fat in this area, this regardless of your complexion or fat accumulation, so the bump is much more disguised.

What is the function of the Adam's apple?

The main function of the walnut is to cover the vocal cords. In addition, it protects the front part of the larynx. This laryngeal prominence plays an important role in the type of voice, especially in men. Being directly related to the function of the vocal cords, the size of the Adam's apple affects the volume and tone of the voice.

The walnut develops during puberty, along with the biological changes that occur at this stage.

In the case of men, the growth of muscles and skeleton is accelerated and very noticeable, and part of this development includes the larynx. Yes, the larynx grows during this process, and the laryngeal prominence also grows, so the tissue that until childhood was soft and fluffy, hardens and grows until it protrudes considerably.

This noticeable growth of the Adam's apple or apple is directly related to voice change during puberty in boys. It is because as the pons and the larynx grow, the cavity that contains the vocal cords becomes larger and This produces a strong and deep resonance, giving rise to an equally deep and cavernous voice, characteristic of an adult male.

In this way we can understand why women do not have this prominent protrusion, and what is the relationship with the highest and finest voices. As well as the reason for the change of voice of children in their passage through puberty. A very simple way to check this is to compare men's nuts with deeper voices than those without. The former will have a much more noticeable bump than the latter.

Walnut abnormalities

A larger apple or Adam's apple makes a powerful voice ideal for singing. As already mentioned, men with more prominent laryngeal prominences tend to have powerful, deep, and thick voices. Nevertheless, an oversized walnut or a second walnut could indicate an unusual condition and in this case it is advisable to have a medical check-up to rule out any possible anomaly.

The red flags are a bigger nut than usual, especially after you've passed the puberty stage. In other words, if after the age of 18 there is a moment where an enlargement of this prominence is perceived, it could be a sign of a problem with the thyroid gland. However, it is also common that pain is perceived in the Adam's apple, when in fact it is the larynx or the thyroid itself.

Another condition to check is the appearance of a second Adam's apple. People who have developed thyroid cancer, have manifested as a first symptom the presence of what looks like another walnut in the throat. It is painless and even moves up and down like true laryngeal prominence. For this reason, it is advisable to pay attention and go for a review as soon as possible.

Bibliographic references

• P. J. Bentley (1980). "Endocrine Pharmacology: Physiological Basis and Therapeutic Applications", CUP Archive.
• William S. Haubrich (2003). "Medical Meanings: A Glossary of Word Origins", ACP Press.