this post was submitted on 27 May 2025

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I have a sinus infection and there is so much snot! Where does it all come from? (aussie.zone)

submitted 1 day ago* (last edited 1 day ago) by [email protected] to c/[email protected]

11 comments fedilink hide all child comments

EDIT: for clarification: There is only so much space between the front of my head and my brain. How does so much snot fit in there? Is it generated continuously so that there is always more available? Does it come from the lungs, and if so, what is the process of transport to my nose?

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[–] [email protected] 16 points 1 day ago* (last edited 1 day ago) (3 children)

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Sinusitis - see the illustration from that article.

I've never found a diagram that gives a great idea of how the sinuses work, but between the various sinuses in your head there's a surprising amount of space. So all that space for holding mucus + constantly making more = a surprisingly large amount of mucus.

Also, since mucus is gross I think we overestimate the actual volume because even a few mLs seems like a lot. If you started blowing your nose into a measuring cup it would take longer than you think to fill it up. Please conduct this experiment and report back with pictures.

[–] [email protected] 1 points 20 hours ago

One thing it took me SO LONG to figure out is us normies call the whole thing "sinuses" but to the science hippies, the sinuses and the nasal cavity are different things. All of which can be clogged with mucus that regenerates.

[–] [email protected] 2 points 1 day ago* (last edited 1 day ago)

Not for the squeamish of course, but I find videos/photos of people who survived head cancer or explosive/war injuries affecting that part of the face showing off their prosthetics to be the best visual examples of how big those nasal cavities are if they've been exposed.

[–] [email protected] 2 points 1 day ago

Not publicly though

[–] [email protected] 12 points 1 day ago

https://en.m.wikipedia.org/wiki/Goblet_cell

Blood brings water, sugars and proteins to the cells, the cells make mucus in the mucus membranes. The entire inside of your nose, throat and lungs produces mucus, with varying viscosity and quantity depending on location.

[–] [email protected] 14 points 1 day ago

Its generated continuously unfortunately

[–] [email protected] 8 points 1 day ago (1 children)

You? Where else?

[–] ulterno 4 points 1 day ago (1 children)

They probably want to know how they got the nutrients to create the snot.

[–] [email protected] -4 points 1 day ago

The big bang????

[–] [email protected] 3 points 1 day ago

Went through this on both sides in January it's the worst.

[–] [email protected] -3 points 1 day ago

Fun fact: a lot of sinus infections are just a cold but the doc wants to sell antibiotics.