Legs! Feet! Our daily routine!



Legs - Terminology

In human anatomical terms, the leg is the part of the lower limb that lies between the knee and the ankle. This article generally follows the common usage.



Legs are often used metaphorically in many cultures to indicate either strength or mobility. The supporting columns of an object may be referred to as legs as well, as in chair legs.


hump - make off - outrun - escape - leap - spring



Legs - Function and cultural aspects

Legs are often used for standing, walking, jumping, running, kicking, and similar activities, and are a significant portion of a person's mass.

Adolescent and adult females in many Western cultures often remove the hair from their legs. Toned, tanned, shaved legs are sometimes perceived as a sign of youthfulness and are often considered attractive in these cultures.


walk - go - pace - march - bustle around - kick



Foot - Term

The foot is a biological structure found in many animals that is used for moving. The analagous structure in certain animals is the hoof or paw.


hike - stroll - gait - foot - tread - stagger



Foot - In Culture

In different cultures across the world, feet are perceived and treated differently.

In China, between the periods of the 10th and 20th century the practice of female foot binding was used to stop the growth of feet, resulting in an aesthetically preferred though deformed foot.

Within several Christian denominations, foot washing is a religious ritual possibly originating in the hospitality customs of the Levant.

Foot fetishism is a sexual interest and preoccupation with feet and hosiery. Playing footsie is also a term dealing with rubbing each other's feet, and can have sexual connotations, while a foot job is a sex act involving the feet.


saunter - jump - drag - falter - flounder - lope



Myths

It is a myth that the Imperial "foot" (304.8 mm) is about the length of the average European male foot. The average today is less than 270 mm and 90% of the population is within 20 mm of that. Very few men today have feet that are a "foot" long: most are more than 35 mm shorter. In the past, the average length would have been less. Even the overall length of most shoes remains well short of one "foot". Tradition has it that the Imperial foot was based upon the size of Hercules' foot.


strut - stalk - run - move - jog - come - blunder



Footwear customs

Customs about footwear while indoors vary significantly from place to place and usually depend on climate, weather, and other factors:

It is customary to remove one's footwear when entering a home:
- in much of Europe and Canada, and in many homes in New Zealand and Australia.
- in some homes in the United Kingdom
- in much of the United States
- in Korea and Japan; the custom is so widespread that floors are often made of materials that are too soft to survive being walked on with shoes.

In some cultures, bare feet may be considered unsightly or offensive. In Arab countries and in Thailand, it is considered extremely offensive to show someone the sole of your foot, although the practice of going barefoot is common, due to various reasons including hot climate and tradition.

Regardless of covering, according to Thai norms feet are the least respected parts of the body; they should not be in a higher position than someone's head and should not face someone or an image of Buddha.

The feet are one of the most common places to be tickled on the human body. The soles generally tend to be sensitive to tickling.


run away - flee - take flight - dash - rush - pelt - scoot