Toe Revealing Paws

Glossary

Toes of a Dog's Paw

Digit

The distal parts of a limb, such as fingers or toes.

Digit of Dog's Forepaw

Foot

The distal part of a limb that bears weight, and facilitates locomotion and manipulation.

The limbs of quadrupeds, such as dogs and cats, are legs.

Kitten Lying

Pentadactyl

Having five digits (fingers, toes) on a limb.

Human Hand

Medial

Relating to, or located towards, the middle of the body, or a structure of the body.

Medial Term Illustrated by Bulldog

Lateral

Located away from the middle of the body, or a structure of the body.

Relating to or located towards the left or the right side.

Lateral Illustrated by Bulldog

Vestigial

Remaining as a remnant or trace of a structure that had been present in the ancestors of a species. Often the original functionality is (to some degree) now lacking, and the structure has become rudimentary or degenerate.

Vestigial

Remaining as a remnant or trace of a structure that had been present in the ancestors of a species.

Often the original functionality is (to some degree) now lacking, and the structure has become rudimentary or degenerate.

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Toe

A digit of a foot.

Toes are named and identified by Roman numerals.

In a pentadactyl (five-fingered or five-toed) arrangement, the most medial digit, if present, is I (e.g. the human thumb) and the most lateral is V (e.g. the human little finger).

Revealing Paws

dogs' and cats' paws and tracks

Digit

Foot

Pentadactyl

Medial

Lateral

Vestigial

Vestigial

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Toe

A digit of a foot.

Toes are named and identified by Roman numerals.

In a pentadactyl (five-fingered or five-toed) arrangement, the most medial digit, if present, is I (e.g. the human thumb) and the most lateral is V (e.g. the human little finger).

In dogs and cats, toe I (the dew claw) is often vestigial.

Also known as digit.