The growing voice box

The idea

The voice box, a throat structure that helps us speak, grows in adolescent boys, making the voice hoarse and sometimes forming a bump called the Adam's apple; in girls it grows less, so the voice changes slightly.

A changed voice

"You have become so tall, Devyani! Your voice has also changed!" says Venkatesh. Inside our throat there is a small structure that helps us speak.

What do you think happens to it as a person grows up?

• It stays the same size all through life
• It grows
• It gets smaller

Look inside the throat

Slide from childhood to adolescence. Watch the voice box in the throat of the boy and of the girl.

Voice box

The voice box is a structure in the throat that helps us speak. In adolescent boys it grows, so the voice sounds hoarse, and the growth may be seen as a bump called the Adam's apple. In girls it grows less, so the voice changes only slightly.

The Adam's apple is not noticeable in every individual.

• Voice box | Voice
• Boys | grows a lot | hoarse; a bump may show
• Girls | grows less | changes only slightly

Notes

The voice box helps us speak. In adolescent boys it grows, making the voice hoarse and sometimes forming a bump, the Adam's apple. In girls it grows less, so the voice changes slightly.

Check yourself

What is the voice box?

In adolescent boys, the growth of the voice box makes the voice sound _.

Which statement about the Adam's apple is true?

How does the voice box change in adolescent girls, compared with boys?

• A part of the ear that helps us to hear sounds. The ear helps us hear. The voice box is in the throat.
• A structure in the throat that helps us speak — correct. Yes! It sits in the throat.
• A part of the stomach that helps us to digest food. The voice box is in the throat, not the stomach.
• exactly the same as before. The voice box grows, so the voice changes.
• weaker and quieter. The book says the voice becomes hoarse, not weaker.
• hoarse — correct. Yes! The voice sounds hoarse.
• It is not noticeable in every individual — correct. Yes! In some boys it can hardly be seen.
• It can be seen clearly in every adolescent boy. It is not noticeable in every individual.
• It is a bump seen only in the ears. It is a bump in the throat region.
• It does not grow in girls at all, so the voice stays the same. It does grow in girls, but not as much as in boys.
• It grows less, so the change is slight — correct. Yes! The voice changes only slightly.
• It grows even more than in boys, so the voice is hoarse. It grows less in girls than in boys.