Toe

As toes (singular: the toe or the toe, from Old High German ZEHA " toe ", " finger ", " Zeigerin "; such as Indo-European deik " show ", related to Latin digitus " finger " ), the end portions of the limbs of four-footed vertebrates referred in primates (including humans ), only the hind limb. The Latin name Digitus pedis means "finger of the foot ." As each finger also has each toe a nail. Humans normally have five toes on each foot. The biggest toe ( hallux, hallux ) is hereby located inside the smallest toe ( little toe, Digitus minimus ) on the outside of the foot.

The phalanges and joints

The toe bones (ossa digitorum pedis digiti or bones ) are similar to the finger bones under construction. The big toe has two members, and all other toes are tripartite. The links are divided into phalanx ( proximal phalanx ), middle phalanx ( phalanx media) and last sections ( distal phalanx phalanx or unguicularis ). In ungulates, they are called bondage, crown and coffin bone. The base, the body and the head can be distinguished at the toe bones.

The joints between the metatarsals and basic elements are called metatarsophalangeal joints ( metatarsophalangeal joints ). The articulation between elementary and middle phalanx is called interphalangeal joint or proximal interphalangeal ( PIP). Is the distal interphalangeal joint (distal interphalangeal, DIP) between the middle and the end link.

Length of toes

Is the big toe is the longest, then we speak of an Egyptian foot. However, if the second toe is the longest, then one speaks of a Greek form. The third form is the Roman, in which the first two toes are approximately in a line. It is also called square shape. The Egyptian form is the most common ( 44%), before the Roman (36%) and Greek (20 %).

Diseases of the toes

There are, inter alia, the following diseases and deformities of the toes:

• Hallux valgus ( misalignment of the big toe )
• Hallux rigidus ( stiffening of the metatarsophalangeal joint due to osteoarthritis )
• Hammer ( claw-like diffraction of a toe)
• Claw toe ( sprain of the metatarsophalangeal joint )
• Splay ( splaying of the metatarsals )
• Corn ( calluses )

• Polydactyly (supernumerary toes)
• Dysmelia ( malformation of one or more limbs, so the arms, hands, legs, or feet )
• Brachydactyly (shortening of one or more fingers or toes)
• Oligodactyly (absence of one or more fingers and / or toes)
• Syndactyly ( coalescence or non- separation of fingers or toes members )

Movements of the toes and muscles

The flexion of the toes toward the ground is called flexion, sometimes known as plantar flexion. It is accomplished by the toe flexors. For the flexion of the big toe of the short and the long Großzehenbeuger are responsible mainly. The second to fifth toe is bent by the short and the long toe flexors substantially.

The stretching of the toes towards the dorsum of the foot is often referred to as extension, also called dorsiflexion or dorsiflexion. For the extension of the big toe of the short and the long big toe extensors is responsible. The remaining toes are stretched by the short and long toe extensors.

The spreading of the toes is called abduction. Considering the toes after spreading each other again, this is, this is a adduction.

Designation of the toes

According to the dictionary, the word forms the toe and the toe in the Germans are equally valid; the plural of both words is the toes.

Scientifically the toes pedis (singular: Digitus pedis) as digiti designated and numbered from the inside out with Roman numerals. The Digitus pedis I additionally bears the name of hallux ( big toe ), the Digitus pedis V is also Digitus minimus ( little toe ) called. For the digiti pedis II, III and IV, there are no special designations, neither in the scientific nor in everyday language. To find words for the second and fourth toe, was part of the 3sat competition " We have no words " in 2009 received was the obvious suggestion to call analogous to the fingers as Zeigezeh or Ringzeh -. Two terms that so far however, have found no inclusion in the dictionary or other recognized dictionaries.

Toes in animals

In animals, except nails toes can also wear hooves, claws or talons. There are also animals whose toes are webbed.