Health Dictionary
Reliable, easy-to-read patient information on common medical conditions — written in plain language, free of jargon, and grounded in current evidence. Browse the most frequent diagnoses, understand what they mean for everyday life, and learn which steps and questions help you have a focused conversation with your doctor.
Big toe
Introduction
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Overview
Overview
The hallux pl. halluces, also known as the big toe or “thumb toe” is the innermost toe of the foot, counted as digit I.
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 geneotype presents with a longer second toe. (Commonly known as “mitten foot”).
Diseases
Diseases
People with the rare genetic disease fibrodysplasia ossificans progressiva characteristically have short big toes.
The big toe is the most common focus of gout and Ingrown nail attacks.
Editor-In-Chief: C. Michael Gibson, M.S., M.D. [1]