My Left Foot Trivia Quiz

Answer: Hallux

Hallux, meaning great or big toe, is the name for your big toe. Although it is called big toe it is not necessarily the longest toe on your foot. The second toe is longer on people with a certain gene. Birds also have a hallux, and with them it is the backwards facing claw that allows them to grip on branches and perches.

Pollex is the thumb.
Phalanges is the name for the bones of the feet.
Tetrapod is the name for four-limbed vertebrates.

Answer: Bunion

Bunions form at the joint where the big toe meets the foot. They are very painful. The cause of them is not entirely certain. One body of thought says that prolonged wearing of tight, pointed shoes that force the toes inwards are the cause. Another school of thought says that there is an underlying genetic cause that is exacerbated by the wearing of incorrect shoes. One thing both schools of thought agree on though is that in cultures where shoes are not worn there are no incidences of bunions. Padding and shielding the bunion from pressure can relieve the symptoms but surgery to remove it is the only actual cure.

Goiter is an enlarged thyroid gland.
Haematoma is a bruise.
Ganglion is a swollen cyst, often on the wrist joint.

Answer: Late afternoon

Late afternoon is the best time to try on shoes. During the day the feet swell with use, so a pair that feel comfortable first thing in the morning could be too tight by late afternoon. Shoes should leave room for the toes to lie naturally, not be squeezed up together,and there should be space between the end of the longest toe and the toe of the shoe. Good fitting shoes should also offer support to the arches.

Answer: Athlete's foot

Tinea pedis is the name for athlete's foot. This is a fungal infection that causes scaling skin, a rash and itching in between the toes. The most common cause is catching it from walking barefoot in a communal area such as shower room or locker room and then putting on socks and/or shoes while the foot is still damp. Staying barefoot, even in areas where infection can be transmitted, until the feet are completely dry actually helps avoid the infection.

The main thing to do is take away the warm, moist environment such as warm shoes on damp feet.

There is a very low incidence of it among people who rarely or never wear shoes.

Answer: Flat feet

When the arch of the foot collapses then virtually the entire sole of the foot comes into contact with the ground, and this is known as flat feet. Some people have this condition naturally, the arch in their foot never develops. In others it happens because they are constantly walking carrying heavy weights, or they suffer some form of foot injury.

There are varying degrees of flat feet. Some need no treatment at all as they cause no problems. Others cause significant pain and impede walking. For these cases arch supports and physical therapy can be helpful. If flat feet is diagnosed in children or young adults then remedial foot exercises can encourage development of the foot arch.

Answer: A year or more

Provided the nail bed is undamaged and intact, a new nail starts to form almost immediately. The rate of growth varies from person to person, for some reason pregnancy makes nails grow faster. It will however take several months for a complete new big toe nail to grow, and sometimes as much as eighteen months. For most healthy people there will be a toe nail that looks like a toe nail in around two to three months, but it will be fragile for a little while and should be treated with care. Diabetics or others with certain diseases that affect circulation to the feet will find that the process takes longer.

Answer: Bacteria

Feet have millions of sweat glands. When your feet sweat, bacteria that naturally occur on the skin eat the sweat and their excretion is what causes that distinctive foot odour. You could wash your feet two or three times a day, but if you then get into a situation where your feet sweat and the sweat cannot escape and dry, they will still smell. Because we normally wear shoes and tights or socks the sweat cannot escape in the way it can from other parts of the body. Hands, for example, have as many sweat glands as feet, but because the sweat can escape and dry before the bacteria get to work they do not smell.

Some people have smellier feet than others, and that is simply because they sweat more.

Answer: Excess uric acid

In Victorian times it was often thought that drinking too much port caused gout. The pain and swelling arise because uric acid crystals have concentrated around the joint. This is not due to excessive drinking alone, although too much alcohol, especially beer, can be a contributory factor. Certain long term medications can also cause gout. Normally the kidneys filter uric acid and it passes out of the body, but when too much is produced for the natural filter system to work then crystals form around the joints. Gout can hit other joints apart from the big toe. Large joints such as wrists, knees and elbows can all suffer. Treatment can be by diet change, or diet change and medication, but unfortunately repeat attacks are common.

Answer: Verrucas

Verrucas occur on the sole of the foot. They are caused by a virus that normally enters the body through broken skin. They are contagious, and are often contracted at public swimming pools or showers. They are harmless and can be left untreated, but as they are often painful most people choose to remove them. Burning, freezing, topical acid treatment and laser therapy are all methods used to treat verrucas.

Answer: Straight across

Chiropodists recommend that toe nails be cut not too short and straight across. This is to avoid painful ingrowing toenails that can arise if the corners are cut on the curve. Because toe nails are thicker than finger nails, which can make them difficult to cut, many also recommend a pair of large nail clippers rather than scissors.

Although nails grow at different rates on different people, toe nails usually need cutting around once a month. The optimum result is a square shaped, smooth nail.