Toe.html



Toes on the foot. The innermost toe (bottom-left in image), which is normally called the big toe, is the hallux.

Toes are the digits of the foot of an animal. Many animal species such as cats walk on their toes, and are described as being digitigrade. Humans, and other animals that walk on the soles of their feet, are plantigrade; unguligrade animals are those that walk on hooves at the tips of their toes.

The toes are, from medial to lateral:

• Big toe (hallux)
• Index toe
• Middle toe
• Fourth toe
• Little toe (Colloquially known as the pinky toe in the USA)¹

Toe anatomy and physiology

Main article: Phalanges of the foot

Bones of the left foot. Plantar surface.

The anatomy of the human foot consists of numerous bones and soft tissues which support the weight of the upright human. The toes specifically assist the human while walking², providing balance, weight-bearing, and thrust during the gait. Toe bones articulate around the metatarsal bones which make up the central portion of the human foot. Movements are generally instigated via tendons actuated by muscles in the lower leg.

Humans typically have five toes. Exceptions include polydactyly (too many toes), and syndactyly or amputation (too few toes). The four smallest toes consist of four phalanx bones, while the largest consists of three phananx bones and two sesamoid bones. Many of the flexor tendons are shared, making it impossible to move individual toes independently; however, some prehensility, or grasping capability, does exist for most humans.

Forefoot shape, including toe shape, exhibits significant variation among people; these differences can be measured and has been statistically correlated with ethnicity³. Such deviations may affect comfort and fit for various shoe types. Research conducted by Freedman for the U.S. Army⁴ indicated that larger feet may still have smaller arches, toe length, and toe-breadth. Specifically measurable toe and forefoot metrics for humans include³:

• height
• breadth and girth
• ball length
• digital pattern
• heel to toe length
• footprint layout

Each of these metrics has been correlated to particular ethnic groups, but absolute deviations in dimensions are relatively small; such deviations may or may not be practically significant from the ergonomic or comfort standpoint.

Injuries

A sprain or strain to the small interphalangeal joints of the toe is commonly called a stubbed toe.⁵ A sprain or strain where the toe joins to the foot is called turf toe. A bunion is a structural deformity of the bones and the joint between the foot and big toe, and may be painful.⁶ Long-term use of improperly sized shoes can cause misalignment of toes, as well as other orthopedic problems.

See also

Look up Toe in
Wiktionary, the free dictionary.

Wikimedia Commons has media related to: Category:Toes

• Ainhum
• Phalanges of the foot
• Finger, for the hand digits
• Hallux
• Morton's toe
• Polydactyly and Syndactyly
• Toe cleavage
• Toe tag
• Toe nail
• Webbed toes

References