The physical feature in a man's throat known as the "Adam's Apple" is a large, raised protrusion about halfway from the jaw to the bottom of the neck. It is a protective cartilage that shields and protects the larynx, or vocal cords. When a boy starts puberty, all types of hormones start affecting different parts of the body. One of those parts is the larynx. The vocal cords start to grow larger and lengthen out, which ultimately will give the developing young man a deeper voice. This enlargement of the vocal cords and cartilage cause some difficulty for the emerging young man to master his new voice. This physical feature is more pronounced in men because men have more muscle mass. Another reason is the angle at which the two bands of cartilage join together. In men, a sharper angle of 90 degrees causes the cartilage to bulge, whereas in women, a more relaxed angle of 120 degrees produces a more subdued look.
The origin of the phrase, "Adam's Apple," stems from the story of Adam and Eve in the garden of Eden. Evidently, when Adam took a bite of the forbidden fruit, supposedly an apple, a piece of it lodged in his throat. It is interesting to note there is no specific mention in the Bible of the fruit type, much less it becoming stuck in the first man's throat. That is the popular story, however, behind the origination of the term, "the Adam's Apple."
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