The Long and Short of Human Toes

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Are these the toes of royalty, or just a marathon runner?
Are these the toes of royalty, or just a marathon runner?
Courtesy jameiah

Ever look down at your feet and wonder why your toes look and move the way they do? You might even have heard the myth that having a second toe longer than your first (something orthopaedic surgeon Dudley Morton dubbed Morton's Toe) means you are more likely to be a criminal, or part of a royal family.

While having toes of different lengths (some longer or shorter than others) is completely normal, some people are so concerned about the size and shape of their toes that they get them shortened by a cosmetic surgeon. Other people need surgery on their toes and feet because the shape makes walking painful.

We all have toes of slightly different shapes and sizes, but did you know that human beings as a whole have comparatively shorter toes than most primates, including our closest relative, the chimpanzee? Compare us to other animals like cats and dogs, and you'll notice that their toes are REALLY short compared to the rest of their paws. What's going on here?

The researchers behind a new paper about the evolution of human toes think that the answer to why humans evolved such short toes might be related to long-distance running. According to researchers, having shorter toes - along with a number of other adaptations - probably gave our ancestors an edge when it came to endurance running, which was necessary to kill and eat large animals. This article from Wired Science explains:

"...many modern anatomical features make sense in the context of savannah marathons. Achilles tendons act as springs to store energy. Our hind limbs have extra-large joints. Our buttocks muscles are perfect for stabilization, as are regions of the brain uniquely sensitive to the physical pitching generated by the motion of running. Toes may belong to this class of adaptations."

I've never been able to run a marathon, but this is still pretty cool news. Now, you might be asking yourself what will happen over time to the shape of human toes now that we no longer have to run down our dinner? According to toe researcher Campbell Rolian, "that's generally a question you could ask about many features of the human anatomy," said Rolian. Because it isn't required to push off, he said, "There's talk about whether the pinkie toe is eventually going to disappear."

Not the pinkie toe?! That one is my favorite.

Source: Wired Science

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Your Comments, Thoughts, Questions, Ideas

Candace's picture
Candace says:

wow, you learn something new every day.! I didnt know that people could get surgery on toes to make the shape different. Then, do dctrs do surgery on people who want longer toes?

posted on Tue, 02/24/2009 - 10:10pm
Anonymous says:

the procedure is called callous distraction
and you grow new bone into an empty gap
the same thing happens sometimes
if a broken arm heals without a cast

posted on Fri, 07/17/2009 - 10:00pm
shanai's picture
shanai says:

The podiatry and cosmetic surgery websites that I looked at listed toe shortening, toe straightening and something called a pinky toe tuck, which involves removing fat from the pinky toe to make it look longer. These procedures involve breaking or cutting out part of the bone in your feet, and putting them back together in a way that (hopefully!) still allows you to walk and run without pain. I didn't see anything about toe lengthening, but that doesn't mean it hasn't been done.

To me, not only does this kind of surgery for cosmetic reasons sound really painful, it seems like a big risk to take. Consider how much weight you put on your feet over a lifetime - and how much running, and jumping, and dancing...

The bones, whether or not they are "pretty," work really well considering how much you use them!

I say, that's pretty amazing in its own right.

posted on Thu, 02/26/2009 - 4:18pm
touhid says:

hello;
i m 22 yrs old. my 4th toe of the left foot is shorter than other toes. it is congenital and my mother also have it in her both foot. as i feel it doesn't create any problem in running.but sometimes i feel pain. my ques is, is there any way to make it longer.if yes let my know.

thanks
touhid

posted on Tue, 08/25/2009 - 11:37pm
Anonymous says:

In my family there is a genetic mishap where the pinkie toe on the left foot is completely curved to the side. Out of my four siblings, I got it (thanks to my father... My gramma has it but he doesn't) The part of the toe that would normally be touching the ground rests on my other toe. Whether it is an advantage or disadvantage I have no idea. It doesn't cause a lot of pain but certainly creates a very interesting conversation at boring parties.
I think my toes are a bit on the long side (isn't there a scale so I could actually know???) but my pinkie toes are dramatically smaller.
NO WAY AM I GETTING SURGERY. So not worth it.

posted on Sun, 11/29/2009 - 8:06pm
sarah123 says:

Hi there,

My whole life my family have teased me with my feet, I was the only one is my family to get 2 totaly different shaped toes, my parents have two the same toes and same to all my brothers and sisters and even my unties and uncles and grand parents.

I'm so embrassed is this common or am I the only one in the world to have 2 dirrerent big toes.

Sarah

posted on Sat, 03/13/2010 - 3:55am
Anonymous says:

I too have a Morton's toe and I feel blessed to possess this beauty. It's lovely to stand out of the crowd sometimes.

posted on Tue, 03/16/2010 - 1:15am
Anonymous says:

my last two toes are shorter than my first 3 which look really funny and bother! wish i could do something about this

posted on Fri, 06/25/2010 - 2:07pm
Anonymous says:

I have the uglies toes going! Fat big toe, skinny long 2nd, normal but larger 3rd, and curved 4th, like a kidney bean. Pinky is the best one. All this in a size 7.
I am so jealous of the girls who can wear cute little shoes with their toes showing.
Then there's the ones who wear them anyhow. think it crosses the line when someone has nail fungus and tries to pull off sandles. YUK.

posted on Wed, 07/14/2010 - 9:02am
Anonymous says:

I suffer from the shortening of the fourth toe. It is very discomforting to wear "cute" sandals and when I try to I feel very self conscious. I have learned to choose non judgemental friends and just try to be comfortable in my own feet. Sugery seems painful and long term problems can occur.

posted on Wed, 08/18/2010 - 4:46pm
Anonymous says:

If your second toe is bigger than your first toe it means you're a good kisser. It doesn't matter how your feet look. God made you beautiful. I bet your fingers are pretty good looking :)

posted on Wed, 07/14/2010 - 10:57am
haivlyn says:

My problem is that all of my toes are small! my feet are big, but i have really small toes, they are short and stubby. i never wear sandals because of this! i get sad cuz sandals are so in right now.

posted on Thu, 07/15/2010 - 12:54pm
KelsiDayle's picture
KelsiDayle says:

Me too, Haivlyn! My toes are all between 0.5-1.5-inches long, including my big toe. But, that's one of the things that makes me unique. I think they're kind of cute, actually. AND, there are plenty of great sandals out there that disguise our toe-shortness. Don't sell yourself short on one of summer's greatest pleasures -- open-toed shoes -- simply because you have funky toes.

posted on Thu, 07/15/2010 - 3:39pm
Jimmy says:

I was wondering... is it normal for a 6'1 guy to have a big toe that's only 1.5 inches long?

posted on Wed, 07/28/2010 - 5:01pm
Susan says:

I too have tiny toes... and Morton's toes! Growing up, I could never understand why those cartoons of foot impressions on the beach or wet on the ground were sort of straight at the top! lol!! I didn't realise other people's toes where in line! lol! Personally I like my little toes, they are neat and sweet and look lovely in sandals - and most of the people I know HATE their feet and toes and their toes look huge and ugly in comparison. They are are either long/huge and bony shaped or just clunky! lol! Haivlyn - celebrate those tiny toes ! KelsiDayle - my big toe is just over 1.25 inches long! But then... I am only just 5 feet tall !

posted on Fri, 08/06/2010 - 7:07am
Anonymous says:

i can lift up my big toe and put it down,also put out my pinky toe. My toes are gymnasts

posted on Fri, 08/06/2010 - 9:48am
Anonymous says:

I HAVE LITTLE TOES 2 MINE REALLY FUN 2 TOUCH

posted on Fri, 08/06/2010 - 2:35pm
Anonymous says:

my toes arnt dat big but are swoolen

posted on Fri, 08/06/2010 - 2:41pm
wahhh says:

Ok my toes are really not normal. I got a huge big toe and four small toes. I hate it i never wear sandals it really sucks =[. There caller tapered toes. I really hate my feet.

posted on Thu, 08/26/2010 - 1:23am

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