Why don't women have a nut? Science gives us the answer

Adolescence is a period of growth and development that occurs after childhood and before adulthood, between the ages of 10 and 19. This moment of transition is one of the most important stages in a person's life, since it produces exponential growth and intense changes at all levels.

When the term adolescence is used, it refers to the psychological and social process by which a child becomes an adult. Cultural aspects have a notable influence and the limits that mark its beginning and end vary in each individual.

Puberty, hormones and changes

It is important to note that, contrary to popular belief, adolescence and puberty are not synonyms. Puberty is a process that occurs in the earliest adolescencestarting between 8 and 10 years in girls and between 10 and 14 in boys.

It is during it that the physical changes typical of adolescents take place, by which the child's body matures and becomes one with the capacity to reproduce sexually. The differences between boys and girls before these changes are found almost solely in their genitalia.

However, when puberty begins the different structures and systems of the male and female body begin to change differentially. In men, the size of the penis and testicles increases, hair becomes thicker and longer and appears in areas such as the chest, armpits or face, height and weight increase (increases muscle mass), acne and body odor, the shoulders widen, the first ejaculations appear and the voice changes noticeably, with an increase in the apple of the neck.

In women, breasts begin to develop, weight increases with increased fat on thighs and hips, acne and body odor also appear and the first menstruation, although the voice does not worsen like that of men.

One of the differential characteristics between men and women that is most striking is the fact that they have the characteristic apple on their neck., while they do not have this protuberance. In this article we are going to talk about why women don't have that curious lump on their neck.

What is the nut?

The Adam's apple, also known as the Adam's apple, is a prominence on the anterior border of the thyroid cartilage. Its degree of bulging depends on the arrangement of the two cartilage sheets that surround the larynx. The function of the apple is to cover our vocal cords and protect the front part of the larynx.

The nut is considered one of the male secondary sexual characteristics and has a lot to do with the change in the voice of boys as they enter puberty. During adolescence, cartilage grows alongside the larynx, so this bulge allows more space for sound to resonate, contributing to males' pitch of voice being lower than female's.

Many people wonder why this structure is known as an Adam's apple. The truth is the origin of this name is based on an old christian belieffor which it was believed that this small lump in men was a simile of the piece of forbidden apple that Adam, according to the Bible, ate in Paradise despite God's warnings, which led to both he and Eve being expelled from Eden.

The truth is that the Bible relates that Adam had eaten that apple, but at no time is it mentioned that a piece of it remained in his throat. For this reason, the veracity of this myth is questioned, although it has lasted until today.

Is it true that women don't have a nut?

Although it is true that men have, unlike women, a visible protuberance on their neck, the reality is that it is not entirely true that they lack a nut. Women also have this structure in the larynx area, which is made up of two sheets of cartilage. Its function is to protect the laryngeal walls and the vocal cords.

Being two sheets, these are articulated differently in each of the sexes, which explains why it is visible in men and not in women. In them the cartilage forms an angle of 90 degrees, while in them a much more open arch is formed, of about 120 degrees. Added to this, women have a thicker layer of fat on their neck than men, regardless of their weight. Therefore, this also prevents the nut from being easily visible and palpable in them.

Furthermore, it is also important to note that Not all men have an equally marked Adam's apple. Although in some it is very evident, in others it is not so visible, since it depends on the weight, the shape of the neck, etc.

Still, some confusion about it is understandable, as the Adam's apple is an important male sexual attribute that becomes prominent at puberty. In this way, in childhood this structure is not visible in boys, but it begins to be noticed when they become adolescents.

It is true that the development of the Adam's apple is influenced by the male hormonal turmoil of adolescence, when testosterone levels skyrocket. The physical growth that becomes noticeable throughout the body also affects the larynx, which protrudes and becomes increasingly hard.

In addition, as we mentioned, the widening of this area allows the resonance of the vocal apparatus to be much greater, which is related to a much deeper and deeper voice. In other words, the more prominent the Adam's apple, the deeper the male voice. However, in adolescents it is common for the so-called "roosters" to appear when the voice is in the process of changing.

Before puberty is complete, the larynx has not fully increased in size, so for a few months it is natural for the voice to be more unstable. Although this is a source of embarrassment for many teens, this is just one more sign that the body is undergoing major physical changes.

Walnut health problems

There are different health problems that can affect this laryngeal structure:

• Excessively large nut size: Owning a large apple can be of great help for singing, since it allows you to have a much more powerful and deep voice. However, when the bulge is excessive and continues to increase after puberty, something may be wrong with your thyroid gland, so it is advisable to see a doctor to check what is happening.

• Nut size too small: When the size of the nut is very small, it is also possible that there is some health condition, so it is recommended to consult a specialist.

• mirrored walnut: There are people who can feel that they have two nuts. Actually, this is impossible, since it is only viable to have an Adam's apple. In these cases, it is necessary to rule out that it may be starting a thyroid cancer, since this can give rise to a secondary lump that resembles a second walnut. This does not have to cause pain and can even move up and down as if it were really an Adam's apple.

Conclusions

In this article we have talked about why women do not have what is known as an Adam's apple. This bump is made up of cartilage that protects the larynx and vocal cords, and is only visible in males. The truth is that women also have this protective cartilage, although in his case, the layout and the greater thickness of the adipose tissue prevent it from being seen and palpated easily as in men.

However, it is common to believe that the nut is something exclusively male, since it is true that it is considered a typically male secondary sexual character. The nut is related to the voice changes that boys experience as they enter puberty. The body of adolescents changes, it widens and increases its muscle mass, and this thanks also occurs in the laryngeal cavity.

This causes the bulge to become more pronounced, which in turn increases the space for sounds from the vocal cords to resonate. This allows the emitted voice to have a much deeper and deeper tone.which is a clearly distinguishing characteristic between men and women.

However, the change of voice is not abrupt but is gradual. Therefore, in adolescence it is common for roosters and vocal instability to occur, since this is a sign that the larynx is in the process of widening.