“The human foot is a masterpiece of engineering and a work of art.”
This is a quote from Leonardo da Vinci, who had a profound knowledge of anatomy. Why did he praise the foot as a masterpiece?
The foot is located the farthest from the heart, so it sends back the blood pumped from the heart, which is why it is called the “second heart.” Since the feet have to support the whole body although their surface doesn’t even reach 10% of the body, they have a very detailed and strong structure. The body of an adult has 206 bones. Among them, the feet have 52 bones–26 bones in each foot, occupying approximately one fourth of all the bones. Not only do the feet support the whole body weight, but they also support the weight that is multiplied due to gravity when walking or running. The arch-shaped sole is a wonderful design to absorb and relieve the impact. When moving, the foot moves the center of gravity from the hill to the sole and to the toes evenly, keeping the balance of the body. This protects the joints and the spine of the body, and enhances the power to go forward.
Our feet take us to where we want to go, enduring the weight of the whole body silently. We can see the foot’s hard work only when we lower our heads because it is located in the lowest part of the body. This is one of the lessons we can get from the foot.