1w ago

Is it normal to be able to shut your nose from within?

Just for perspective: I am a man in my mid-40s and for as long as i can remember i had this question... is it normal that i can shut my nose close just with some muscles?

I always wondered why some people hold their nose shut with their fingers while jumping into a pool or when exposed to some horrible smell... i never had this need. Changing my sons diapers? No problem! Cleaning the latrines while in the army? Just a breeze!

Ehm... yeah... just thought about this...

38 comments

Shut from where?
Shut your nostrils completely? That doesn't seem normal.
\ Shut the air passage near where it enters your throat? I think that's normal.
Do you, by any chance, have slight trouble breathing with a light cold, get a clogged nose easily or even have reduced sense of smell?
Because I do and I can also do what you describe.
- Absolutely! The moment i catch ANYTHING remotely affecting the mucous in my nose everything is sealed shut tight. Regarding the reduced sense of smell i haven't noticed anything.
I mean, in all of those circumstances I just hold my breath. I'm certainly not wanting to breath in a bad smell through my mouth.
But if the question is can I elect to breath through my mouth without pinching my nose, the answer is yes. I wouldn't describe it as "shutting my nose," though, so maybe we're not talking about the same thing.
My great grandma used to say, "I'd rather smell the smell than taste the smell!"
No but I can close the air duct just above my soft palate (not really sure what that part is called), so effectively I can't breathe through my nose but if I were to go underwater water would still get in, if that makes any sense. I'm not sure if this is common. I know that that part is supposed to close automatically while swallowing to prevent food from going up in the nasal cavity, but idk how common it is to be able to control it separately. It's handy to avoid smells without using my hands though :)
- I can do that as well, so at least you aren’t alone!
We need video proof
I can shut my nose mostly, but when diving into water from a significant height, it will always shoot up my nose, so I plug it with my fingers.
Yes, closing your sinuses is a natural reflex response for humans, and people have greater or lesser at will control over it.
The nose holding for swimming is more about how strong that sinus closure is and endurance. People with larger sinus openings have a more difficult time keeping them closed and resisting pressure like water entering from jumping into a pool. Also some people have a hard time keeping them closed for any prolonged period.
In other words, you just have totally ripped sinuses breh.
- Interesting, from time to time over the years i wondered about it, but never looked further into it.
face claw
Did you not read the "How Not To Give Away You Are A Lizard To The Humans" pamphlet?
- Lizard, otter, human... i think this may count as an identity crisis?
  
  No, your Animorph powers just have a wandering idle go to a Morphoidmechanic and get your regulator replaced. Come on Dad, get with the times, everybody knows this stuff.
- I've never heard of this pamphlet, but I have a feeling you didn't read it either because now I know about it.
  
  You only think you know about it.
You might be part otter. They can close their noses from within when diving.
- Hah... this also explains my taste for fish and natural attraction to water!
Yes you can, but it's not very strong. So when jumping into water, you might want to force close with fingers to prevent pressured water to get into the nose even if you keep it closed with your internal muscles.
I almost broke my timpanus due to a very high jump without using the fingers
How else do people blow out birthday candles, and blow up balloons? The air could just escape through the nose!
I think with diving and other situations is to prevent the exposure of the inside of the nose. Especially when jumping in the water and and pressure can be much higher.
- From what i know, there are two ways to close your nose. one is via the soft palate. probably everyone can do that.
  the other is via the musculis nasalis, which op probably meant. most people can't do that.
I can’t do that. I never felt the need to hold my nose in any of the scenarios you described. I am pretty sure when it comes to your nasal cavities there are no muscles involved.
- Try blowing out a candle. Feel how your nose feels while doing that. Try to replicate the same movement in your nose without blowing.
  There's a ton of face muscles that you can learn to control with a bit of practice:
  Wiggling your ears
  Moving your eyes inwards
  Clicking your ear channels (like the click you hear when swallowing)
  Creating a humming noise in your ears by flexing a muscle inside your ear channels
  Plugging your nose from the inside
  Rolling your tounge
  Individual motion of your brows
  "Vibrating" your eyes super fast left and right
  Probably a few more that I didn't think of right now.
  
  Moving your eyes inwards
  Details, please. 🤨
  
  Blowing out candles is controlling your nasopharynx which every does so food and liquids don't go up their nose while swallowing. Most everyone can breathe through their mouth instead of their nose.
  The OP seems to be describing his nasal passage, not his throat. That seems unusual but I've never asked people to know.
  
  I think some of those are genetic.
You can what?
I don’t think I can do that. I can lock it down further back?
Yes, but then you're just eating the poop offgas when you clean.
Yes I can stop myself from sneezing without holding my nose. But I've heard it's bad for you. Some people cannot do it, and are surprised when I do.

38 comments