Toe facts for kids

Toes are the digits of the foot of an animal. Many animal species walk on their toes, and are called digitigrade. Humans, and other animals that walk on the soles of their feet, are plantigrade; hoofed animals are unguligrade.

In humans, the bones of each toe continue all the way to the heel, although in from the base of the toes they come together in the body of the foot. The inside toe is by far the thickest, and is called the big toe, great toe, or hallux.

The one on the other end is short and thin. The toes, especially the big toe, play an essential role in walking, although a loss of the smallest toe will not affect the way people move.

Related pages

• Phalanges
• Bones of the foot
• Foot

Images for kids

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  Bones of the right foot. Plantar surface.

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  A woman's toes decorated with nail polish and henna, and wearing a metti (toe ring) on the second toe, for her wedding

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  The feet of Michelangelo's David

See also

In Spanish: Dedos del pie para niños