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Sole (foot)

 

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Sole (foot)


 
 

The sole is the bottom of the human footFoot

The foot is a biological structure found in many animals that is used for locomotion. ...
. Anatomically, the sole of the foot is referred to as the plantar aspectAnatomical terms of location

In human and zoological anatomy, several terms are used to describe the location of organs and other structures in the body of bil...
. The equivalent surface in ungulateUngulate

Ungulates are mammals that use the tip of their toes, usually hoofed, to sustain the whole bodyweight while moving....
s is the hoofHoof

[Image:HoofRearHooves.jpg|thumb|200px|right|Rear hooves of a horse]]...
.

Description

The skin on the sole of the foot lacks the vellus hairVellus

Vellus hair is short, fine, "peach fuzz" body hair....
 and pigmentationMelanin

Broadly, melanin is any of the polyacetylene, polyaniline, and polypyrrole "blacks" and "browns" or their mixed copolymers....
 found on the rest of the body, and has a high concentration of sweat pores. The soles are crossed by a set of creases that form during embryogenesisEmbryogenesis Summary

Embryogenesis is the process by which the embryo is formed and develops....
 and contain the thickest layers of skin on the human body due to the weight that is continually placed on them. Like the palmHand

The hands are the two intricate, prehensile, multi-fingered body parts normally located at the end of each arm of a human or...
, the sweat pores of the sole lack sebaceous glandSebaceous gland

The sebaceous glands are glands found in the skin of mammals....
s.

Innervation

The soles of the feet are extremely sensitive to touchSomatosensory system Overview

The somatosensory system is the sensory system of somatic sensation....
 due to a high concentration of nerve endingsNerve

A nerve is an enclosed, cable-like bundle of nerve fibers or axons, which includes the glia that ensheath the axons in...
. This makes them sensitive to surfaces that are walked on, ticklishTickling Overview

Tickling is the act of touching a part of the body so as to cause involuntary laughter or twitching movements....
 and some people find them to be erogenous zoneErogenous zone

An erogenous zone is an area of the human body that has heightened sensitivity and stimulation of which normally results in ...
s. Medically, the soles are the site of the plantar reflexPlantar reflex

In medicine, the Babinski reflex or Babinski sign is a reflex that can identify disease of the spinal cord and brain....
, the testing of which can be painful due to the sole's sensitivity. The feet can also be a used for tortureFalaka Overview

A Falaka was originally a Persian instrument of physical punishment used to immobilize offenders who would then be punished ...
 when the person is tied down immobile and the bare feet are whipped.

Arches

The sole of the adult foot is normally archedArches of the foot

In order to allow it to support the weight of the body in the erect posture with the least expenditure of material, the foot is co...
. Arches may fail to develop during childhood or may flatten during pregnancyPregnancy

Pregnancy is the carrying of one or more embryos or fetuses by female mammals, including humans, inside their bodies....
 and old age resulting in flat feetFlat feet

Flat feet, also called pes planus or fallen arches, is the condition in humans in which arch of the foot collaps...
.

In culture

In the Middle EastMiddle East

The Middle East is a subcontinent for the historical and cultural subregion of Africa-Eurasia traditionally held to be count...
 the sole of the foot is considered unclean and it is considered insulting or offensive to prominently display a bare soleBarefoot

Going barefoot is the practice of walking without shoes, socks, or other foot covering....
. In Western cultureWestern culture

Western culture or Western civilization is a term used to refer to the cultures of the people of European origin and t...
 the sensitivity of the sole makes it a target for ticklingTickling Overview

Tickling is the act of touching a part of the body so as to cause involuntary laughter or twitching movements....
 or sexual stimulationFoot fetishism

Foot fetishism or podophilia is a pronounced sexual interest in feet....
.