The end of the leg is called the foot.
The foot is the extremity of the leg , made up of a structure of bones, joints, muscles and other components. Thanks to the feet, people can stand and walk.
For example: "I dropped a chair on my foot and it hurts a lot when I step on it: I'm going to have to go to the doctor , " "Foot massages are very relaxing," "I fractured my toe playing soccer." .
The feet provide support to the body, offer cushioning, are necessary in stabilization and vital in locomotion. Various foot disorders, therefore, can make it difficult or even prevent a subject from standing upright or moving.
Regions and components of the foot
It is possible to recognize various regions on the foot. The lower area is known as the sole , while the upper area is called the instep . Regarding its bone components, we can distinguish the phalanges (the bones of the fingers), the metatarsus and the tarsus .
Given that each human foot has 33 joints, 26 bones and more than a hundred tendons, ligaments and muscles , it is easy to understand that it is a part of the body prone to many injuries and diseases , among which are bunions, corns, warts on the soles and flat feet (also known as falling arches). Wearing inappropriate footwear is usually one of the causes of these disorders, and being overweight and advanced age can increase the chances of their appearance.
Hygiene is important throughout the body; On the feet, it is especially important to keep the spaces between the toes, as well as the nails, clean and fresh, to prevent the formation of fungus and the proliferation of bacteria.
Feet can suffer from various problems.
Corns and calluses
Corns and calluses are very common foot problems and the cause is usually friction or pressure, usually in the area where the foot rubs against the shoes. More precisely, calluses usually appear on the sides or above; the calluses, on the plant. It is worth mentioning that these injuries can also occur in the hands.
To avoid corns and calluses, it is advisable to wear well-fitting shoes or insoles. It is possible to treat these problems by using a pumice stone to rub the affected area during the bath (you can also use a towel). It is important not to scrape these formations, as this can lead to infections . People suffering from circulatory problems or diabetes should consult their doctor before proceeding on their own.
Animal feet
The extremities of the legs of animals can also be called feet.
Although they present many differences from those of humans, animal feet also usually have bones, joints, etc. Those species whose feet have a highly developed sole are classified as plantigrade .
Other meanings of the term
By extension to these meanings, a foot can be called that support that allows something to be supported: "The foot of the table could not support the weight and broke" , "The structure has a steel foot that allows it to resist up to two hundred kilograms" , "If we want to properly configure our audio system we will need to get stands for the speakers."
Foot, finally, is a unit of length that is based on human feet and ancient civilizations already used it. The Roman, for example, measured about 29.57 cm; The Carolingian, for its part, which used to be called Drusic or Drusian , was close to 33.27 cm, which is equivalent to 9/8 of the Roman; the Castilian, finally, was around 27.86 cm. Currently, most countries use other units of measurement, with the exception of certain Anglo-Saxon countries, in which it represents 30.48 cm.