• CrazyLikeGollum@lemmy.world
    link
    fedilink
    English
    arrow-up
    2
    ·
    22 days ago

    The nostrils are connected to the throat through the sinuses as are the ear canals. Topologically making them all part of the same mouth-anus throughole.

    • itslilith@lemmy.blahaj.zone
      link
      fedilink
      English
      arrow-up
      3
      ·
      edit-2
      22 days ago

      Not true, topolgically the route

      left nostril -> sinus -> right nostril

      is another hole. So is

      any nostril -> sinus -> mouth.

      ears have the eardrum, so they don’t count.

      For the more formal definitions of topological holes, look up Betti numbers, I think there’s a VSauce video about it? For humans, the number of holes is at least 3 (but I’m sure I’m missing many more holes). Unless you’re missing the entire septum.