Sole (foot)

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The sole is the bottom of the foot and is one of the two areas of the human body which grows no vellus hair. A set of creases, formed in the womb, criss-cross the sole. In anatomy, the sole of the foot is referred to as the plantar aspect. The sole contains significantly less pigment than the skin of the rest of the body. This applies to human beings of all skin color.

The skin on the soles of the feet are the thickest layers of skin on the human body, due to the continous weight that is placed on the soles. Most think that the skin on the soles of the feet are very thin, hence the increased sensitivity to touch on the soles of the feet. This, however, is a myth. The soles of the feet is also the region in the body where the most nerve endings are located. This sensitivity is also the reason why the plantar reflex can be slightly unpleasant for some.

The soles of the feet houses a dense population of sweat pores compared to other regions of skin.

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