Foot, Toe, and Nail Changes: Are They Interdependent?

The toes are the distal extension of the foot increasing its weight-bearing area and the security of the stance. The nails are the acral part of the toes and are so intimately linked with the distal interphalangeal joint, its ligaments, and tendons that they were also called musculoskeletal appendages. The big toe is of particular importance for gait and stance. Anatomic alterations of the foot and toe lead to pathological changes of the nails, both directly as well as indirectly.