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{{short description|Bottom part of foot}}
{{Infobox anatomy
| Name = Sole
| Latin = planta
| Image = File:Soles_of_human_feet.png
| Caption = Soles of a human's feet
| Artery = [[medial plantar artery|medial plantar]], [[lateral plantar artery|lateral plantar]]
| Vein =
| Nerve = [[medial plantar nerve|medial plantar]], [[lateral plantar nerve|lateral plantar]]
| Lymph =
| part_of = [[Foot]]
}}
The '''sole''' is the bottom of the [[foot]].

In humans the sole of the foot is anatomically referred to as the [[Anatomical terms of location|plantar aspect]].

== Structure ==
[[File:PF-PlantarDesign.jpg|thumb|left|Deep anatomy of the sole]]
The [[glabrous skin]] on the sole of the foot lacks the [[hair]] and [[Melanin|pigmentation]] found elsewhere on the body, and it has a high concentration of [[sweat gland|sweat pores]]. The sole contains the thickest layers of skin on the body due to the weight that is continually placed on it. It is crossed by a set of creases that form during [[Human embryogenesis|the early stages of embryonic development]]. Like those of the [[Hand|palm]], the sweat pores of the sole lack [[sebaceous glands]].

The sole is a sensory organ by which we can perceive the ground while standing and walking. The [[subcutaneous tissue]] in the sole has adapted to deal with the high local compressive forces on the [[heel]] and the [[ball (foot)|ball]] (between the toes and the [[arches of the foot|arch]]) by developing a system of "pressure chambers." Each chamber is composed of internal fibrofatty tissue covered by external [[collagen]] connective tissue. The [[septum|septa]] (internal walls) of these chambers are permeated by numerous [[blood vessel]]s, making the sole one of the most [[Angiogenesis|vascularized]], or blood-enriched, regions in the human body.
<ref name="Thieme-Atlas-4">{{Harvnb|Ross|Lamperti|2006| pp=418, 486}}</ref>

The sole and the [[Arches of the foot#Longitudinal arches|longitudinal arch of the foot]] are supported by a [[aponeurosis|thick connective tissue]], the [[plantar fascia]]. The [[Plantar fascia#Structure|central component of this tissue]] extends to the supporting bones and gives two divisions–the [[plantar fascia#Structure|medial component]] and [[Plantar fascia#Structure|lateral component]]; thus they define the boundaries of the three muscle compartments of the sole (see below).<ref name="Thieme-Atlas-1">{{Harvnb|Ross|Lamperti|2006| pp=456–61}}</ref>

The bones underlying the sole form the [[arches of the foot|arch]] of the foot. The arches might collapse later in life, resulting in [[flat feet]].
{{Clear}}

=== Muscles ===

==== Intrinsic ====
{{multiple image
| image1 = Gray443.png | width1 = 84 | alt1 = First layer
| image2 = Gray444.png | width2 = 94 | alt2 = Second layer
| image3 = Gray445.png | width3 = 102 | alt3 = Third layer
| image4 = Gray446.png | width4 = 120 | alt4 = Dorsal interossei
| image5 = Gray447.png | width5 = 130 | alt5 = Plantar interossei
| footer = First, second, and third muscle layers, and the dorsal and plantar interossei
}}
The intrinsic muscles in the sole are grouped in four layers:

In the first layer, the [[Flexor digitorum brevis muscle|flexor digitorum brevis]] is the large central muscle located immediately above the plantar aponeurosis. It flexes the second to fifth toes and is flanked by [[Abductor hallucis muscle|abductor hallucis]] and [[Abductor digiti minimi of foot|abductor digiti minimi]].<ref name="Thieme-Atlas-1" />

In the second layer, the [[Quadratus plantae muscle|quadratus plantae]], located below flexor digitorum brevis, inserts into the tendon of flexor digitorum longus on which the [[Lumbricals of the foot|lumbricals]] originate.<ref name="Thieme-Atlas-1" />

In the third layer, the oblique head of [[Adductor hallucis muscle|adductor hallucis]] joins the muscle's transversal head on the lateral side of the big toe. Medially to adductor hallucis are the two heads of [[Flexor hallucis brevis muscle|flexor hallucis brevis]], deep to the tendon of flexor hallucis longus. The considerably smaller [[Flexor digiti minimi brevis muscle (foot)|flexor digiti minimi brevis]] on the lateral side can be mistaken for one of the interossei.<ref name="Thieme-Atlas-1" />

In the fourth layer. the [[Dorsal interossei of the foot|dorsal]] and [[Plantar interossei muscles|plantar interossei]] are located between and below the metatarsal bones and act as antagonists.<ref name="Thieme-Atlas-1" />

The central compartment is shared by the lumbricals, quadratus plantae, flexor digitorum brevis, and adductor hallucis; the medial compartment by abductor hallucis, flexor hallucis brevis, abductor digiti minimi, flexor digiti minimi brevis, and opponens digiti minimi (often considered part of the former muscle); whilst the lateral compartment is occupied by extensor digitorum brevis and extensor hallucis brevis.
<ref name="Thieme-Atlas-2">{{Harvnb|Ross|Lamperti|2006| pp=438–40}}</ref>

==== Extrinsic ====
The tendons of several extrinsic foot muscle reach the sole:
* The tendons of the deep foot flexors in the posterior compartment of the leg, [[Tibialis posterior muscle|tibialis posterior]], [[flexor digitorum longus muscle|flexor digitorum longus]], and [[flexor hallucis longus muscle|flexor hallucis longus]], passes behind the medial [[malleolus]] into the sole.
* The tendon of [[Fibularis longus muscle|fibularis longus]] similarly passes behind the lateral malleolus into the sole.<ref name="Thieme-Atlas-3">{{Harvnb|Ross|Lamperti|2006| pp=433, 436–37}}</ref>

=== Nerve supply===
[[File:Gray834.svg|thumb|[[Cutaneous innervation]] of the sole of the foot]]
The soles of the feet are extremely sensitive to [[Somatosensory system|touch]] due to a high concentration of [[Nerve|nerve endings]], with as many as 200,000 per sole.<ref>{{cite web|url=https://barefootr.com/tag/nerve-endings/|title=nerve endings - barefootr|website=barefootr.com|access-date=2 May 2018}}</ref> This makes them sensitive to surfaces that are walked on, [[Tickling|ticklish]] and some people find them to be [[erogenous zone]]s.<ref>{{Harvnb|Brittan|2003}}</ref>

Medically, the soles are the site of the [[plantar reflex]], the testing of which can be painful due to the sole's sensitivity.

The [[deep fibular nerve]] from the [[common fibular nerve]] provides the sensory innervation of the skin between the first and second toes and the motor innervation of the muscles of the anterior compartment of the leg and dorsal foot. Damage to the deep fibular nerve can result in [[foot drop]].<ref name="Tank-2006-n">{{Harvnb|Tank|2006| loc=Nerves of the Sole of the Foot}}</ref>

The [[Common plantar digital nerves of medial plantar nerve|plantar digital nerves]] from the [[medial plantar nerve]] provide sensory innervation to the skin of the plantar aspect of the toes, except for the medial part of the big toe and the lateral part of the little toe and the motor innervation of the first lumbrical.<ref name="Tank-2006-n" />

The [[Proper plantar digital nerves of medial plantar nerve|proper plantar nerve]] from the common plantar digital nerve provides sensory innervation to the plantar surface of the toes as well as the dorsal aspect of the distal interphalangeal phalanges. It also provides motor innervation to flexor hallucis brevis.<ref name="Tank-2006-n" />

The [[Superficial branch of lateral plantar nerve|superficial]] and [[Deep branch of lateral plantar nerve|deep branches]] of the [[lateral plantar nerve]] from the [[tibial nerve]] provide sensory innervation to the skin of the lateral side of the sole, to the fifth and half the fourth toes, and the nail bed of these toes. They also provide motor innervation to quadratus plantae, abductor digiti minimi, flexor digiti minimi brevis, lateral three lumbricals, adductor hallucis, and the dorsal and plantar interossei.<ref name="Tank-2006-n" />

The [[medial plantar nerve]] from the [[tibial nerve]] provides sensory innervation to the skin of the medial side of the sole, the skin of the medial three and a half toes, and the nail beds of these toes. It also provides motor innervation to abductor hallucis, flexor hallucis brevis, flexor digitorum brevis, and the first lumbrical.<ref name="Tank-2006-n" />

The [[saphenous nerve]] from the [[femoral nerve]] provides sensory innervation to the medial side of the foot as well as the medial side of the leg. Likewise, the [[sural nerve]] provides sensory innervation to the skin on the lateral side of the foot as well as the skin on the posterior aspect of the lower leg.<ref name="Tank-2006-n" />

The [[tibial nerve]] from the [[sciatic nerve]] provides sensory innervation to the skin of the sole and toes, and the dorsal aspect of the toes. It provides motor innervation to [[plantaris muscle|plantaris]], tibialis posterior, flexor hallucis longus, flexor digitorum longus as well as posterior muscles in the leg.<ref name="Tank-2006-n" />

== Society and culture ==

In Thailand, Saudi Arabia, and some Muslim countries it is considered offensive to sit raising the leg so the uncovered sole of the foot is visible and therefore [[taboo]].<ref>{{harvnb|Lumsden|Lumsden|Weithoff|2009| p=223}}</ref>

==Other animals ==
{{Further |Comparative foot morphology}}
Terrestrial animals using their soles for locomotion are called [[plantigrade]].

In [[Common chimpanzee|chimpanzee]]s, the soles are furrowed with creases deeper and more distinct than in their palms. In the palms, the pattern density is thickest in the central part, but in the sole, the density is thickest near the big toe whilst a large part of the remaining sole is covered by thick, tight, and smooth skin almost without furrows.<ref>{{Harvnb|Ladygina-Kohts|2002| pp=29–33}}</ref>

In [[bonobo]]s, the pattern intensity of the [[epidermal ridges]] (i.e. "fingerprints") of the palms and soles is considerably higher than in chimpanzees. Whilst the pattern intensity in the palm is the highest of all species of [[ape]]s, in the sole, the density decreases and is comparable to other apes.<ref>{{Harvnb|Brehme|1975| loc=Abstract}}</ref>

== Clinical significance ==
{{Expand section|date=May 2018}}{{Main|Diseases of the foot}}

The sole is subject to many skin diseases.

== See also ==
{{Anatomy-terms}}
{{Commons category}}
* [[Barefoot]]
* [[Footprint]]
* [[Gait (human)]]
* [[Human skeletal changes due to bipedalism]]

== Notes ==
{{Reflist|30em}}

== References ==
{{Refbegin|30em}}
* {{Cite journal
| last = Brehme | first = H.
| title = Epidermal patterns of the hands and feet of the pygmy Chimpanzee (Pan paniscus)
| journal = Am J Phys Anthropol |date=March 1975 | volume = 42 | issue = 2 | pages = 255–62
| pmid = 1119549 | doi=10.1002/ajpa.1330420214
}}
* {{cite book
| last = Brittan | first = Patti
| title = Complete Idiot's Guide to Sensual Massage
| publisher = Alpha Books | year = 2003
| isbn = 9781592570959
}}
* {{Cite book
| last = Ladygina-Kohts | first = N.N.
| title = Infant Chimpanzee and Human Child: A Classic 1935 Comparative Study of Ape Emotions and Intelligence
| editor-last = de Waal | editor-first = Frans B.M.
| publisher = Oxford University Press | year = 2002
| url = https://books.google.com/books?id=6KN6GuoHPF4C&pg=PA29
| isbn = 9780195135657
}}
* {{cite book
| last1 = Lumsden | first1 = Gay
| last2 = Lumsden | first2 = Donald
| last3 = Weithoff | first3 = Carolyn
| title = Communicating in Groups and Teams: Sharing Leadership
| year = 2009 | publisher = Wadsworth Publishing
| isbn = 978-0-495-57046-2 | page = 223
| url = https://books.google.com/books?id=PDwtPqbCRsEC&pg=PA223
| access-date = June 14, 2011
}}
* {{cite book
| editor-last1 = Ross | editor-first1 = Lawrence M.
| editor-last2 = Lamperti | editor-first2 = Edward D.
| title = Thieme Atlas of Anatomy: General Anatomy and Musculoskeletal System
| publisher = Thieme | year = 2006 | isbn = 1-58890-419-9
}}
* {{cite book
| last = Rossi | first = William A.
| title = The Sex Life of the Foot and Shoe
| publisher = Kreiger Publishing
| year = 1993 | isbn = 9780894645730
}}
* {{Cite web
| last = Tank | first = Patrick W.
| title = Sole of the Foot
| publisher = University of Arkansas for Medical Sciences
| url = http://anatomy.uams.edu/anatomyhtml/foot.html
| year = 2006
}}
* {{Cite journal
| last1 = Young | first1 = Craig C.
| last2 = Niedfeldt | first2 = Mark W.
| last3 = Morris | first3 = George A.
| last4 = Eerkes | first4 = Kevin J.
| title = Clinical Examination of the Foot and Ankle
| journal = Prim Care Clin Office Pract | year = 2005 | volume = 32 | issue = 1
| pages = 105–32
| doi = 10.1016/j.pop.2004.11.002
| pmid = 15831315
| url = http://www.med.unc.edu/medselect/resources/suggested-readings-for-subspecialty-clinics/rheumatology/Foot%20exam%20reivew_11-4-09.pdf
}}
{{Refend}}

== External links ==
{{Human anatomical features}}
{{Authority control}}

[[Category:Foot]]

Sole (foot) - Revision history

Ajay Kumar: Created a new article