Here is a little brain teaser (or more accurately, a foot teaser): you know from

Question

Here is a little brain teaser (or more accurately, a foot teaser): you know from the text that you have the tibialis anterior which has a insertion at your interior surface of the medial cuneiform and first meditarsal and you have your externsor digitrourm longus, with an insertion in middle and distal phalanges of toes 2-5. Discussion: Can you flex and or point your big toe independent of the rest of your toes? Can you flex or point your 2-5 toes independent of your big toe? Take off your shoes and socks and see. Let your classmates know if you can or cannot. Give an hypothesis as to how your own toes can move. Think critically: when you use these movements during the day (if at all)? What could be the reason for having this kind of neuromuscular control? Finally, would it be possible to walk easily without having a big toe? FYI, it is fine if you cannot do either or any of the movements.

Explanation / Answer

Flexion of big toe is done by Flexor hallucis longus and flexor hallucis brevis. Flexion to f 2-5 toes is done by Flexor digitorum longus and flexor digitorum brevis.

The rationale is we can't flex the Big toe alone why because the Flexor hallucis longus share some of its tendon to flexor digitorum longus in the middle, so when we try to flex the big toe others toe flex automatically.But we can flex the 2-5 toes as there is no anotomic sharing of tendons from Flexor digitorum to flexor hallucis.

It's very difficult to walk without Big toe as it's responsible for Stability of foot. Loss of grip, proprioceptive control all results in risk of fall and unstable gait during walking.

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