Sole

Looks like

Thick, hairless skin with ridges, full of sweat glands, over pads of fat.

What it does

Grips the ground and spreads the body's weight.

Keeping it well

Air the shoes and dry between the toes. A wart on the sole grows inward and hurts; a pharmacist can help.

Related conditions

• Buerger's disease (thromboangiitis obliterans)
• Chronic venous insufficiency
• Clubfoot (talipes equinovarus)
• Flat feet (pes planus)
• Ganglion cyst
• Gout
• Hammer toe and claw toe
• Lymphatic filariasis (elephantiasis)
• Lymphoedema
• Morton's neuroma
• Restless legs syndrome
• Varicose veins
• Venomous snakebite