How to Pronounce Thyroid Cartilage
Definition, meaning, and phonetic spelling
Thyroid Cartilage Pronunciation
THY-royd KAR-tih-lij
Stressed syllable in ALL CAPS · hyphens separate syllables
Syllable Breakdown
THY
stress here
royd KAR
tih
lij
4 syllables
What is Thyroid Cartilage?
The largest cartilage of the larynx (voice box), forming the "Adam's apple" visible at the front of the throat. Although not a bone, it ossifies (turns to bone) with age and is included in skeletal anatomy studies. It protects the vocal cords.
Questions About Thyroid Cartilage
How do you pronounce 'thyroid cartilage'?
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Say it like this: THY-royd KAR-tih-lij. The first word rhymes with 'tired,' and the second word sounds like 'cartilage' with the stress on the first syllable (KAR). Put them together smoothly, and you've got it!
Which syllable gets the stress in 'thyroid cartilage'?
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The stress falls on THY in the first word and KAR in the second word. A common mistake is stressing the second syllable of 'thyroid' (saying thy-ROYD instead of THY-royd), so remember to punch that first syllable.
How do you break 'thyroid cartilage' into syllables?
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Break it like this: THY-royd CAR-tih-lij. That's two syllables for the first word and three for the second, making five syllables total.
What does 'thyroid' actually mean?
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The word 'thyroid' comes from Greek and means 'shield-shaped.' It describes the shape of the thyroid gland, which sits below the larynx—and the thyroid cartilage is named after that gland because it's located in the same area of your neck.
What does 'cartilage' mean in plain English?
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Cartilage is a tough, flexible material in your body that's softer than bone but stronger than regular tissue. It's what gives your ears and nose their shape, and the thyroid cartilage is the cartilage that forms part of your voice box.
What is the thyroid cartilage's everyday name?
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Most people call it the 'Adam's apple'—that's the bump you can feel at the front of your throat, especially visible in many men. It's called the thyroid cartilage in medical language.
What other medical words share the 'thyroid' root?
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You'll see 'thyroid' in words like thyroid gland, thyroiditis, and thyrotoxicosis. All of these relate to the thyroid gland or the shield-shaped structures in that area of your body.
Can you use 'thyroid cartilage' in a sentence?
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Sure! Here's an example: 'The doctor examined the patient's thyroid cartilage by gently palpating the front of the neck.' This sentence shows how a healthcare provider might assess this structure during an exam.

