The fingers and toes do not have muscles within them that directly cause movement.
While it might seem like fingers and toes are powered by their own local muscles, this isn't the case. Their movement is instead controlled by muscles located further up in the forearm and leg. These muscles are connected to the fingers and toes by long, thin structures called tendons. These tendons act like cables, transmitting the force generated by the muscles to the bones in the fingers and toes, enabling them to move.
Here's a more detailed look:
- Fingers: The muscles that control finger movements are found in the forearm. These muscles contract and pull on tendons that run down to the fingers. This is why, when you make a fist or wiggle your fingers, you can often feel the muscles working in your forearm.
- Toes: Similarly, the muscles responsible for toe movements are primarily located in the lower leg. Tendons connect these muscles to the bones in the feet and toes, allowing for actions like pointing your toes or flexing your foot.
So, while fingers and toes are crucial for dexterity and movement, they rely on muscles in other parts of the body, and they themselves have no muscles to execute movement directly.
