Hallux

Hallux

The hallux, commonly referred to as the big toe (also as great toe or thumb toe), even though it's not actually the biggest toe on the foot of some people, is the innermost toe of the foot. It is counted as digit I (one). The name stems from the Latin for the same, similar to the pollex, which refers to the thumb.

In humans, the hallux is longer than the second or pointer toe for a majority of people. This is an inherited trait in humans, where the dominant gene causes the normal length hallux while the homozygous recessive genotype presents with a longer second toe. (Commonly known as "mitten foot" or "Morton's toe"). People with the rare genetic disease fibrodysplasia ossificans progressiva characteristically have short big toes.

In birds with anisodactyl or heterodactyl feet, the hallux is opposed or directed backwards and allows for grasping and perching.

Problems

A common problem involving the big toe is the formation of bunions (or Hallux valgus), an abnormal enlargement of bone or tissue around the joint at the base of the toe.

The big toe is also the most common locus of ingrown nails and gout attacks.

The hallux is also used for balance in the human body.

ee also

*Podiatry

External links

*" [http://www.ocpm.edu/hallux Textbook of Hallux Valgus and Forefoot Surgery,] " complete text online in PDF files


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Look at other dictionaries:

  • *hallux — ● hallux nom masculin (latin hallus, gros orteil) Hallux flexus, orteil en marteau. Hallux valgus, déviation vers l extérieur du pied de l articulation métatarso phalangienne, le gros orteil se mettant en abduction et le premier métatarsien en… …   Encyclopédie Universelle

  • hallux — m. anat. Dedo gordo del pie. Medical Dictionary. 2011. hallux dedo gordo del pie. CIE 10 …   Diccionario médico

  • hallux — 1831, from Mod.L. hallux, corruption of allex great toe …   Etymology dictionary

  • hallux — [hal′əks] n. pl. halluces [hal′yo͞o sēz΄] [ModL < L hallux, hallus, big toe] the first toe on either of the hind legs of a terrestrial vertebrate; in humans, the large inner toe …   English World dictionary

  • Hallux — Hal lux (h[a^]l l[u^]ks), n. [NL., fr. L. hallex, allex.] (Anat.) The first, or preaxial, digit of the hind limb, corresponding to the pollux in the fore limb; the great toe; the hind toe of birds. [1913 Webster] …   The Collaborative International Dictionary of English

  • Hallux — (Anat.), die große Zehe …   Pierer's Universal-Lexikon

  • Hallux — (lat.), die große Zehe (s. Fuß, S.227); H. valgus, s. Ballen …   Meyers Großes Konversations-Lexikon

  • Hallux — Dedos gordos en la escultura …   Wikipedia Español

  • Hallux — What the ancient Romans called the big toe. Since hallux was a good enough word for the big toe among the ancient Romans, it has long done yeoman s duty in medicine. Abnormalities of the big toe tend thus to be called hallux this or that. For… …   Medical dictionary

  • Hallux — Zehen einer Frau Als Zehen (von althochdeutsch zêha „Zehe“, „Finger“, „Zeigerin“; wie indogermanisch deik „zeigen“, verwandt mit lateinisch digitus „Finger“) werden die Endabschnitte der Gliedmaßen der vierfüßigen Wirbeltiere bezeichnet, bei… …   Deutsch Wikipedia

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