When examining the human body, much of it is logical. For instance, hands are essential for grasping objects; feet enable us to walk; and eyelashes and eyebrows protect our eyes from dust and other debris. Yet, certain body parts can be puzzling. One might expect that wisdom teeth and the coccyx would have become obsolete by now.
However, the big toe plays a crucial role. Try standing up and walking; the big toe is vital for balance. Attempting to walk with only the other four toes can make movement unstable. Therefore, it’s clear that the big toe is indispensable among body parts.
Interestingly, a 2018 study in the Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences suggests that the big toe was not only late in developing its current form compared to other foot bones but might have been the last toe to evolve. This finding prompts scientists to reconsider their understanding of foot bone evolution, given the big toe’s significance in walking and running.
Why the origins of the big toe are important
For researchers, the possibility that the big toe developed last offers intriguing insights into the evolutionary timeline, which is often speculative. According to the Smithsonian National Museum of Natural History, humans have been bipedal for about 6 million years. If the big toe was the last to form, early humans likely walked differently than we do today, suggesting diverse bipedal adaptations among species. This also implies that early human foot usage, especially in arboreal environments, might differ from previous assumptions.
“It was surprising to discover hominins with a grasping, or opposable, big toe, as this was thought incompatible with effective bipedalism,” said Professor Fred Spoor, an expert in human anatomy at the Natural History Museum in London, to the BBC. “This research indicates that different foot parts can serve different functions. Even with an opposable big toe, effective bipedalism is possible.” This suggests that ancient humans were remarkably adapted in their own contexts.
Why human beings became bipedal
While swinging from trees, as primates do, seems enjoyable and allowed early humans to use their feet similarly to hands, it raises the question of why humans became bipedal. Upright movement likely made long-distance travel easier, but the exact reasons remain unclear.
“So far, theories on bipedalism evolution suggest hominins descended from trees and walked upright in open, arid habitats lacking trees,” anthropologist Dr. Fiona Stewart told UCL News. Other theories propose that upright posture freed hands for carrying and increased energy efficiency, potentially aiding brain development.
The evolution of modern humans, including the development of big toes and bipedalism, was a gradual process spanning millions of years. Understanding the big toe’s unexpected origins helps scientists decode human evolution and anticipate future developments. Given our technology-driven society and phenomena like “tech neck,” predicting the next evolutionary steps is both fascinating and crucial.
