Historically,
there's been this idea that it somehow is called an Adam's apple
because maybe Adam ate this apple and it got lodged in his throat.
Why is it that a person who practices medicine is called a physician?
Coming up on Word Matters,
the puzzling name of the human laryngeal protuberance and the history of physician.
I'm Emily Brewster and Word Matters is produced by Merriam-Webster in collaboration with New England Public Media.
On each episode, Merriam-Webster editors Neil Servin, Amon Shea,
Peter Sokolowski and I explore some aspect of the English language from the dictionary's vantage point.
Welcome to Anatomy and Physiology Week on Word Matters.
First up, the Adam's apple.
It is neither an apple nor is it the possession only of people named Adam.
How did this anatomical feature get its name?
I'll take a look at this one.
There's a term for an anatomical element.
A laryngeal protuberance is maybe a more technical way of phrasing it,
and that term is Adam's apple.
Have you all ever wondered about the term Adam's apple?
I have to say, I don't know anything about it.
About the name, that is.