Foot facts for kids

Foot is also the name of a unit of measurement. See foot (unit of length).

A man's foot

A foot (one foot, two or more feet) is a body part found at the end of your leg. We use our feet for many things! They help us walk, run, and jump. Feet are also super important for balance. They help us stand up straight and not fall over. You also use your feet to kick, like in sports such as football.

Your hands and feet are quite similar. Both have five digits (fingers on your hands, toes on your feet). Many other animals with backbones also have five digits. The back part of your foot, where it connects to your leg, is called the heel. The bottom of your foot is known as the sole. Did you know that about half of all the bones in your body are found in your feet? Doctors who specialize in feet are called podiatrists or chiropodists.

Different Kinds of Feet

Many animals have feet, and they come in all shapes and sizes! For example, the feet of monkeys are very much like hands. They can even use them to grab things.

Some animals, like horses or cows, have hard feet called hooves. These hooves help them walk on rough ground. When an animal has soft feet, or feet with soft pads underneath, we often call it a paw. Think of a dog or a cat's paw!

Footwear and Traditions

In many places around the world, people like to cover their feet when they are with others, especially outside. This footwear helps keep feet safe and clean. Common types of footwear include sandals, shoes, and boots.

Sometimes, if people wear shoes all the time, especially in hot places or when they are very active, their feet can get smelly. This is called foot odour. It's also important that your shoes fit well. Shoes that are too big or too small can hurt your feet over time. Special shoes can even help people with problems in their feet, legs, or back.

People have different customs about wearing shoes inside homes. For example, in much of Europe and Canada, people usually take off their shoes when they enter a home. In the United States, people often keep their shoes on inside. In Japan, people always take off their shoes indoors, and floors are often made of soft materials. Not wearing shoes can actually be good for your feet, especially for children's feet as they grow.

Sometimes, feet can get conditions like Athlete's foot. This can make the skin on your feet feel dry and cracked.

Bones in Your Foot

Each human foot is made up of 26 bones. These bones are divided into three main groups:

• 14 phalanges (these are the bones in your toes)
• 5 metatarsals (these are the long bones in the middle of your sole)
• 7 tarsals (these are the bones that make up your ankle and the back part of your foot)

Gallery

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  A medical X-ray image of a foot.

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  A woman's feet with nail polish.

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  A woman's foot wearing shoes.

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  A grown man's feet.

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  The tiny feet of a newborn infant.

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  An image showing the muscles in the front of the leg.

Images for kids

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  A woman's foot, decorated with nail polish and henna, wearing a metti (toe ring) for her wedding.

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  An example of underpronation of a foot.