The toe bones

What it does

The big toe has two phalanges and each of the other toes has three, making fourteen per foot, the same pattern as your hand. Your toes grip the ground for balance and help push you forward as you walk, especially the big toe.

Why it matters

Stubbing a little toe is so painful partly because it has very little padding and sticks out at the edge of the foot. Most broken toes heal with simple strapping to the neighbouring toe.

Nearby

• The long bones of the foot
• The small muscles of the foot
• The long big-toe flexor
• The long toe extensor

Read more

• Phalanges of the foot — Wikipedia