Foot Axis Revealing Paws

Glossary

Foot

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

Devon Rex Siamese Cats Revealing Feet

Track

Impression or indentation made on the substrate (ground) by a foot.

Dog Track in Sand

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).

Symmetrical (Foot or Track)

A foot that displays reflection symmetry around the foot axis;

i.e. one side of the foot axis is the mirror image of the other side.

Symmetrical Paw of a Puppy

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Asymmetrical (Foot or Track)

A foot that does not display reflection symmetry around the foot axis;

i.e. one side of the foot axis is not the mirror image of the other side.

Cougar Track

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Revealing Paws

dogs' and cats' paws and tracks

Foot

Track

Toe

Symmetrical (Foot or Track)

Spare

Asymmetrical (Foot or Track)

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Foot Axis

Imaginary line that runs long the center of a foot or track.

This usually runs in between toes III and IV of dogs, demonstrating the symmetrical arrangement of the canine foot.

(Contrasted with the asymmetrical arrangement of the feline foot.)