|An example of male laryngeal prominence.| |Front view of neck.|
|Precursor||4th and 6th branchial arch| The Adam's apple
(technically known as the laryngeal prominence) is a feature of
the human neck and refers to the lump or protrusion that is
formed by the angle of the thyroid cartilage surrounding the
larynx. The structure of the laryngeal prominence forms a bump
under the skin. It is larger in adult men, in whom it is usually
clearly visible and palpable. In women, the bump is much less
visible and is hardly perceived on the upper edge of the thyroid
cartilage. The meeting point of the two portions of the
cartilage generally forms an acute angle (of about 90°) in men,
while in women, an open arc (of about 120°). There are two main
theories as to the origin of the term' "Adam's apple". The
"Brewer's Dictionary of Phrase and Fable" and the 1913 edition
of Webster's Dictionary points at an ancient belief that a piece
of forbidden fruit was embedded in Adam's throat (the first man,
according to Abrahamic rel