there is no direct anatomical connection between your nasal passageway and your brain so a tiny object like a fingernail clipping would not likely cause you harm. objects in the nose can be aspirated into the lungs however assuming it makes it that far through the maze of nasal hair mucous and nasal turbinates that trap foreign objects.
is it possible for a fingernail clipping that flys up your nose to get into your brain or something equally dangerous? . i was clipping my fingernails and a small clipping flew up and i felt it hit/go into my right nostril. i immediately grabbed a tissue plugged the left nostril and blew but didn't see it come out. i've tried that several times since. i know logically that it might have hit my nose and fallen right back out but of course i'm worried that it flew up into my nose. i'm afraid to breathe through my nose! where would/could it go if it flew up there? is there any connection to your brain?