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=Pads on the Palm and Sole of the Human Foetus=


Roswell H. Johnson


(1899) THE AMERICAN NATURALIST. [Vol. XXXIII. 729-734
==Introduction==


https://archive.org/details/jstor-2454357
In examining the soles of the feet of human foetuses of two and three months, I have found four distinct dome-like elevations situated interdigitally along the line of the metatarso-phalangeal joints. Similar mounds were found in the corresponding position upon the palm, there being, however, only three true mounds in a transverse line. The thumb-index finger elevation was merely represented by the large thenar eminence. The reason for the absence of the true mound is probably that its presence would interfere with the opposition of the thumb. Upon the palm the mounds are less distinct, and in the older foetuses the well-defined outline becomes lost, leaving only an elevation comparable to the " mounts " of the palmists, to which Wilder ('97) has called attention. The mounds on the sole are succeeded by the smooth "ball" of the foot of the adult in embryos of about one hundred millimeters in length.


Pads On The Palm And Sole Of The  Human Foetus.


Roswell H. Johnson.  
Unfortunately the poor preservation of many of the specimens resulting from the inevitable exigencies of their collection and preservation make it impossible to determine precisely the stage of development attained by the pads in the various cases. This difficulty and the gradual increase to a maximum with the subsequent gradual decrease prevent a precise statement of the stages of development of the foetus where the pads are evident. The accompanying table shows the conditions found in the embryos examined, with the exception of a few cases of very bad preservation. It is believed by the author that the variation shown is the result of the preservation and not a real individual variation. This cannot be definitely stated however.


In examining the soles of the feet of human foetuses of two
and three months, I have found four distinct dome-like elevations situated interdigitally along the line of the metatarso-phalangeal joints. Similar mounds were found in the
corresponding position upon the palm, there being, however,
only three true mounds in a transverse line. The thumb-index
finger elevation was merely represented by the large thenar
eminence. The reason for the absence of the true mound is
probably that its presence would interfere
with the opposition of the thumb. Upon
the palm the mounds are less distinct, and
in the older foetuses the well-defined outline
becomes lost, leaving only an elevation comparable to the " mounts " of the palmists,
to which Wilder ('97) has called attention.
The mounds on the sole are succeeded by
the smooth "ball" of the foot of the adult
in embryos of about one hundred millimeters in length.


Unfortunately the poor preservation of many of the specimens resulting from the inevitable exigencies of their collection and 


Fig 1 . Plantar surface of the right foot of foetus, No. 259 Minot collection. The method of stippling causes the mounds to appear with too sharp outlines.


Fig 1 . Plantar surface of the right foot of foetus, No. 259 Minot collection. The method of stippling causes the mounds to appear  with too sharp outlines.


{| width=600px|
! No. in<br>Collection
! Collection
! Length<br>in mm
! Condition of Pads<br>on Feet
! Condition of Pads<br>on Hands
|-
| 67
| H.M.C.
| 31
| Slightly developed
|
|-
| 58
| P.&S.
| 36
| Slightly developed
| Slightly developed
|-
| 2
| P.&S.
| 42
| Well developed
| Well developed
|-
| 32
| P.&S.
| 44
| Well developed
| Well developed
|-
| 21
| P.&S.
| 55
| Well developed
| Fairly developed
|-
| 249
| H. M. C.
| 57
| Well developed
| " Mounts " barely shown.
|-
|
| N. Y. L. I. H.
| 65
| Well developed
|-
| 183
| H.M.C.
| 69
| Fairly developed
| Fairly developed on one hand.
|-
| 6
| P.&S.
| 70
| Slightly developed
| Not present as pads
|-
| 110
| H.M.C.
| 76
| Slightly developed
| Not present as pads
|-
| 20
| P.&S.
| 80
| Well developed
| Fairly developed
|-
| 149
| H.M.C.
| 85
| Fairly developed
| Not present as pads
|-
| 30
| P.&S.
| 97
| Not present
| Not present as pads
|-
| 8
| P.&S.
| 100
| Poorly developed
| Faintly developed
|-
| 3
| H.M.C.
| 103
| Not present
| Not present as pads
|-
| 216
| H.M.C.
| 104
| Not present
| Not present as pads
|-
| 51
| P.&S.
| 105
| Scarcely discernible
| Not present as pads
|-
| 10
| P.&S.
| 115
| Not present
| Not present as pads
|-
| 12
| P.&S.
| 120
| Not present
| Not present as pads
|-
| 68
| H.M.C.
| 120
| Scarcely discernible
| Not present as pads
|-
| 239
| H.M.C.
| 150
| Scarcely discernible
| Not present as pads
|}
<br>
H. M. C. = Harvard Medical School Collection. P.&S. = Collection of College of Physicians and Surgeons, Columbia Univ. N.Y. L. I. H. = Collection of New York Lying-in Hospital.


preservation make it impossible to determine precisely the stage of development attained by the pads in the various cases.
This difficulty and the gradual increase to a maximum with the
subsequent gradual decrease prevent a precise statement of the
stages of development of the foetus where the pads are evident.
The accompanying table shows the conditions found in the
embryos examined, with the exception of a few cases of very bad preservation. It is believed by the author that the variation shown is the result of the preservation and not a real
individual variation. This cannot be definitely stated however.


Sections (Figs. 2 and 3) show the pad to be the result of the growth of the mesodermic tissue beneath, rather than an epidermic thickening. A cross-section (Fig. 4) of the right hind foot of a cat embryo in the region of the Anlagen of the walking pads shows an essential similarity in their form, position, and structure with the mounds on the human foetal foot (Fig. 2).




N.O. IN
Since the interdigital position precludes the possibility of the mounds being merely contour lines resulting from the influence of the joints or digits, we may infer from the fact that the position is characteristic of walking pads that we have here structures of this kind. Further evidence lies in the fact that in the baboons we have in the same positions upon the palm and sole strongly developed mounds with marked patterns of the epidermic ridges, and that in man there are upon the palms and soles "patterns" (Galton) or "centers of disturbance" (Wilder) of the epidermic ridges at these points. Seldom, however, do we find them all present upon one palm or sole.


Collection.




Collection.  
Fig. 2. — Cross-section of the left foot of the same foetus. Section 193 G 48 in collection of slides in Harvard Medical School. Roman numerals = metatarsal bones. Arabic numerals = number of mound.




Length
in


MM.




Condition of Pads
Fig. 3. — Longitudinal section of the right foot of the same foetus. Section 194 H 20 in Harvard collection.
on Feet.  


Typically there is but one pattern upon the adult hand and two upon the adult foot. The accompanying table shows the relative frequency of occurrences of the several patterns in the adult.


Condition of Pads on Hands.  
{|
|-
| colwidth=150px| &nbsp;
! colwidth=200px|Number of <br>Thenar Patterns
! colwidth=200px|Number of <br>Radial or Tibial Patterns
! colwidth=200px|Number of <br>Median Patterns
! colwidth=200px|Number of <br>Fibular or Ulnar Patterns
|-
| 200 hands
| 17 = 8.5 %
| 13 = 6.5%
| 129 = 64.5%
| 62 = 32.5 %
|-
| 41 feet
| 39 = 95- 1 %
| 9 = 21.9%
| 32 = 78.1 %
| 5 = 12.1 %
|}


It will be noticed that with the exception of the ulnar-fibular pattern the occurrence of any pattern is more frequent in the case of the feet than in the case of the hands, as might be expected from the poorer development of the mounds upon the foetal palm.


6 7
The ulnar-fibular pattern is remarkable not only for the fact that it is the only one of the four metatarso-phalangeal patterns which occurs less frequently in the feet than in the hands, but also for the fact that of these four " centers " it is the only one which occurs more frequently in the female than the male, as the following table shows.




H.M.C.
{|
|
! Cases in 200 Male Hands
! Cases in 200 Female Hands
|-
| Thenar
| 12
| 5
|-
| Radial-tibial
| 9
| 4
|-
| Median
| 75
| 54
|-
| Ulnar-fibular
| 25
| 40
|-
| Hypothenar
| 29
| 37
|}


* The hypothenar pattern is one not in the metatarso-phalangeal series. See Figs. 5 and 6.


31
I am under great obligations to Dr. C. B. Davenport, for suggestions and criticisms ; to Professor C. Sedgwick Minot, for kindness in allowing me to examine his collection of foetuses and to section the feet figured, and for suggestions and criticism; to Professor H. H. Wilder, for the use of a series of footprints ; and to Dr. J. A. Blake, for permission to examine the collection of foetuses of Columbia University.




Slightly developed.


Fig. 4. — Cross-section of the right hind foot of a cat foetus in region of the Anlage of the walking pad. Section 195 B 109 in Harvard collection. Roman numerals = metatarsal bones. Arabic numerals = number of mound.


==Conclusions==


# There are upon the sole of the human foetus of two to three months four mounds situated interdigitally along the line of the metatarso-phalangeal joints. Three mounds exist in a similar situation upon the palm of the foetus of the same age. In the foot the mounds disappear. Upon the hand they persist as the less definite " mounts " of palmistry.
# These mounds are homologous with the walking pads of some mammals, and have a direct relation to the " centers of disturbance " of the epidermic ridges upon the palms and soles of man and other primates.
# Corresponding with a poorer development of these mounds upon the hand than on the foot in the foetus, the " centers of disturbance " occur upon the foot more frequently than upon the hand in the adult.


58




P.&S.  
Fig. 5. — Palm of a foetus of Evotomys gapperi.




36
Fig. 6. — Palm of Inuus (from Kollmann after Purkinje).




tt




Slightly developed.
Harvard University, May 23, 1899
 
 
2
 
 
P.&S.
 
 
42
 
 
Well developed.
 
 
Well developed.
 
 
32
 
 
tt
 
 
44
 
 
"
 
 
"
 
 
21
 
 
"
 
 
55
 
 
u
 
 
Fairly developed.
 
 
249
 
 
H. M. C.
N. Y. L. I. H.
 
 
57
65
 
 
a
 
 
" Mounts " barely shown.
 
 
183
 
 
H.M.C.
 
 
69
 
 
Fairly developed
 
 
Fairly developed on one hand.
 
 
6
 
 
P.&S. .
 
 
 
 
Slightly developed.
 
 
Not present as pads.
 
 
no
 
 
H.M.C.
 
 
76
 
 
"
 
 
"
 
 
20
 
 
P.&S.
 
 
80
 
 
Well developed.
 
 
Fairly developed.
 
 
149
 
 
H.M.C.
 
 
85
 
 
Fairly developed.
 
 
Not present as pads.
 
 
 
 
P.&S.
 
 
97
 
 
Not present.
 
 
tt
 
 
8
 
 
tt
 
 
100
 
 
Poorly developed.
 
 
Faintly developed.
 
 
3
 
 
H.M.C.
 
 
103
 
 
Not present.
 
 
Not present as pads.
 
 
216
 
 
U
 
 
104
 
 
ft
 
 
"
 
 
5 1
 
 
P.&S.
 
 
105
 
 
Scarcely discernible.
 
 
tt
 
 
10
 
 
tt
 
 
"5
 
 
Not present.
 
 
tt
 
 
12
 
 
tt
 
 
120
 
 
tt
 
 
tt
 
 
68
 
 
H.M.C.
 
 
120
 
 
Scarcely discernible.
 
 
tt
 
 
239
 
 
tt
 
 
150
 
 
tt
 
 
tt
 
 
 
H. M. C.=Harvard Medical School Collection.
P.&S.=Collection of College of Physicians and Surgeons, Columbia Univ.
N.Y. L. I. H.= " " New York Lying-in Hospital.
 
Sections (Figs. 2 and 3) show the pad to be the result of the
growth of the mesodermic tissue beneath, rather than an epidermic thickening. A cross-section (Fig. 4) of the right hind
foot of a cat embryo in the region of the Anlagen of the walking pads shows an essential similarity in their form, position,
and structure with the mounds on the human foetal foot (Fig. 2).
 
Since the interdigital position precludes the possibility of
the mounds being merely contour lines resulting from the influence of the joints or digits, we may infer from the fact that the
position is characteristic of walking pads that we have here
structures of this kind. Further evidence lies in the fact that
 
 
 
No. 393.]
 
 
 
THE HUMAN FCETUS.
 
 
 
73 1
 
 
 
in the baboons we have in the same positions upon the palm
and sole strongly developed mounds with marked patterns of
the epidermic ridges, and that in man there are upon the palms
 
 
 
 
Fig. 2. — Cross-section of the left foot of the same foetus. Section 193 G 48 in collection of
slides in Harvard Medical School. Roman numerals = metatarsal bones. Arabic numerals = number of mound.
 
and soles "patterns" (Galton) or "centers of disturbance"
(Wilder) of the epidermic ridges at these points. Seldom, however, do we find them all present upon one palm or sole.
 
 
 
 
Fig. 3. — Longitudinal section of the right foot of the same foetus. Section 194
H 20 in Harvard collection.
 
Typically there is but one pattern upon the adult hand and
two upon the adult foot. The accompanying table shows the
relative frequency of occurrences of the several patterns in the
 
adult.
 
 
 
200 hands.
41 feet.
 
 
 
Number of
 
Thenar
 
Patterns.
 
 
 
17 = 8.5 %
 
39 = 95- 1 %
 
 
 
Number of Radial or Tibial
Patterns.
 
 
 
13 = 6.5%
9= 21.9%
 
 
 
Number of
 
Median
Patterns.
 
 
 
Number of Fibular or Ulnar
Patterns.
 
 
 
129 = 64.5%
32 - 78.1 %
 
 
 
62 = 32.5 %
 
5 = 12.1 %
 
 
 
It will be noticed that with the exception of the ulnar-fibular
pattern the occurrence of any pattern is more frequent in the  case of the feet than in the case of the hands, as might be
expected from the poorer development of the mounds upon the
foetal palm.
 
The ulnar-fibular pattern is remarkable not only for the fact
that it is the only one of the four metatarso-phalangeal patterns
which occurs less frequently in the feet than in the hands, but
also for the fact that of these four " centers " it is the only one
which occurs more frequently in the female than the male, as
the following table shows.
 
 
 
 
 
Cases in
 
 
Cases in
 
 
 
 
ioo Male
 
 
ioo Female
 
 
 
 
Hands.
 
 
Hands.
 
 
Thenar
 
 
12
 
 
5
 
 
Radial-tibial . . .
 
 
9
 
 
4
 
 
Median
 
 
75
 
 
54
 
 
Ulnar-fibular . . .
 
 
2 5
 
 
40
 
 
Hypothenar * . . .
 
 
29
 
 
37
 
 
 
I am under great obligations to Dr. C. B. Davenport, for suggestions and criticisms ; to Professor C. Sedgwick Minot, for
kindness in allowing me to examine his collection of foetuses
 
 
 
 
Fig. 4. — Cross-section of the right hind foot of a cat foetus in region of the Anlage of the
walking pad. Section 195 B 109 in Harvard collection. Roman numerals = metatarsal bones. Arabic numerals = number of mound.
 
 
 
and to section the feet figured, and for suggestions and criticism; to Professor H. H. Wilder, for the use of a series of
footprints ; and to Dr. J. A. Blake, for permission to examine  the collection of foetuses of Columbia University.
 
1 The hypothenar pattern is one not in the metatarso-phalangeal series. See  Figs. 5 and 6.
 
 
 
No. 393.]
 
 
Conclusions.
 
I. There are upon the sole of the human foetus of two to
three months four mounds situated interdigitally along the line
of the metatarso-phalangeal joints. Three mounds exist in a
similar situation upon the palm of the foetus of the same age.
In the foot the mounds disappear. Upon the hand they persist as the less definite " mounts " of palmistry.
 
II. These mounds are homologous with the walking pads of
some mammals, and have a direct relation to the " centers of
 
 
 
 
 
Fig. 5. — Palm of a fcetus of  Evotomys gapperi.
 
 
 
Fig. 6. — Palm of Inuus (from Kollmann after Purkinje).
 
 
 
disturbance " of the epidermic ridges upon the palms and soles
of man and other primates.
 
III. Corresponding with a poorer development of these
mounds upon the hand than on the foot in the foetus, the
" centers of disturbance " occur upon the foot more frequently
than upon the hand in the adult.
 
 
 
Harvard University,  
May 23, 18c
 


==Bibliography==
==Bibliography==

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Johnson RH. Pads on the palm and sole of the human foetus. (1899) Amer. Naturalist. 33: 729-734

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This 1899 historic paper describes hand and foot pads development in the embryo. See links below for the modern notes.


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Pads on the Palm and Sole of the Human Foetus

Roswell H. Johnson

Introduction

In examining the soles of the feet of human foetuses of two and three months, I have found four distinct dome-like elevations situated interdigitally along the line of the metatarso-phalangeal joints. Similar mounds were found in the corresponding position upon the palm, there being, however, only three true mounds in a transverse line. The thumb-index finger elevation was merely represented by the large thenar eminence. The reason for the absence of the true mound is probably that its presence would interfere with the opposition of the thumb. Upon the palm the mounds are less distinct, and in the older foetuses the well-defined outline becomes lost, leaving only an elevation comparable to the " mounts " of the palmists, to which Wilder ('97) has called attention. The mounds on the sole are succeeded by the smooth "ball" of the foot of the adult in embryos of about one hundred millimeters in length.


Unfortunately the poor preservation of many of the specimens resulting from the inevitable exigencies of their collection and preservation make it impossible to determine precisely the stage of development attained by the pads in the various cases. This difficulty and the gradual increase to a maximum with the subsequent gradual decrease prevent a precise statement of the stages of development of the foetus where the pads are evident. The accompanying table shows the conditions found in the embryos examined, with the exception of a few cases of very bad preservation. It is believed by the author that the variation shown is the result of the preservation and not a real individual variation. This cannot be definitely stated however.


Fig 1 . Plantar surface of the right foot of foetus, No. 259 Minot collection. The method of stippling causes the mounds to appear with too sharp outlines.


No. in
Collection
Collection Length
in mm
Condition of Pads
on Feet
Condition of Pads
on Hands
67 H.M.C. 31 Slightly developed
58 P.&S. 36 Slightly developed Slightly developed
2 P.&S. 42 Well developed Well developed
32 P.&S. 44 Well developed Well developed
21 P.&S. 55 Well developed Fairly developed
249 H. M. C. 57 Well developed " Mounts " barely shown.
N. Y. L. I. H. 65 Well developed
183 H.M.C. 69 Fairly developed Fairly developed on one hand.
6 P.&S. 70 Slightly developed Not present as pads
110 H.M.C. 76 Slightly developed Not present as pads
20 P.&S. 80 Well developed Fairly developed
149 H.M.C. 85 Fairly developed Not present as pads
30 P.&S. 97 Not present Not present as pads
8 P.&S. 100 Poorly developed Faintly developed
3 H.M.C. 103 Not present Not present as pads
216 H.M.C. 104 Not present Not present as pads
51 P.&S. 105 Scarcely discernible Not present as pads
10 P.&S. 115 Not present Not present as pads
12 P.&S. 120 Not present Not present as pads
68 H.M.C. 120 Scarcely discernible Not present as pads
239 H.M.C. 150 Scarcely discernible Not present as pads


H. M. C. = Harvard Medical School Collection. P.&S. = Collection of College of Physicians and Surgeons, Columbia Univ. N.Y. L. I. H. = Collection of New York Lying-in Hospital.


Sections (Figs. 2 and 3) show the pad to be the result of the growth of the mesodermic tissue beneath, rather than an epidermic thickening. A cross-section (Fig. 4) of the right hind foot of a cat embryo in the region of the Anlagen of the walking pads shows an essential similarity in their form, position, and structure with the mounds on the human foetal foot (Fig. 2).


Since the interdigital position precludes the possibility of the mounds being merely contour lines resulting from the influence of the joints or digits, we may infer from the fact that the position is characteristic of walking pads that we have here structures of this kind. Further evidence lies in the fact that in the baboons we have in the same positions upon the palm and sole strongly developed mounds with marked patterns of the epidermic ridges, and that in man there are upon the palms and soles "patterns" (Galton) or "centers of disturbance" (Wilder) of the epidermic ridges at these points. Seldom, however, do we find them all present upon one palm or sole.


Fig. 2. — Cross-section of the left foot of the same foetus. Section 193 G 48 in collection of slides in Harvard Medical School. Roman numerals = metatarsal bones. Arabic numerals = number of mound.



Fig. 3. — Longitudinal section of the right foot of the same foetus. Section 194 H 20 in Harvard collection.

Typically there is but one pattern upon the adult hand and two upon the adult foot. The accompanying table shows the relative frequency of occurrences of the several patterns in the adult.

  Number of
Thenar Patterns
Number of
Radial or Tibial Patterns
Number of
Median Patterns
Number of
Fibular or Ulnar Patterns
200 hands 17 = 8.5 % 13 = 6.5% 129 = 64.5% 62 = 32.5 %
41 feet 39 = 95- 1 % 9 = 21.9% 32 = 78.1 % 5 = 12.1 %

It will be noticed that with the exception of the ulnar-fibular pattern the occurrence of any pattern is more frequent in the case of the feet than in the case of the hands, as might be expected from the poorer development of the mounds upon the foetal palm.

The ulnar-fibular pattern is remarkable not only for the fact that it is the only one of the four metatarso-phalangeal patterns which occurs less frequently in the feet than in the hands, but also for the fact that of these four " centers " it is the only one which occurs more frequently in the female than the male, as the following table shows.


Cases in 200 Male Hands Cases in 200 Female Hands
Thenar 12 5
Radial-tibial 9 4
Median 75 54
Ulnar-fibular 25 40
Hypothenar 29 37
  • The hypothenar pattern is one not in the metatarso-phalangeal series. See Figs. 5 and 6.

I am under great obligations to Dr. C. B. Davenport, for suggestions and criticisms ; to Professor C. Sedgwick Minot, for kindness in allowing me to examine his collection of foetuses and to section the feet figured, and for suggestions and criticism; to Professor H. H. Wilder, for the use of a series of footprints ; and to Dr. J. A. Blake, for permission to examine the collection of foetuses of Columbia University.


Fig. 4. — Cross-section of the right hind foot of a cat foetus in region of the Anlage of the walking pad. Section 195 B 109 in Harvard collection. Roman numerals = metatarsal bones. Arabic numerals = number of mound.

Conclusions

  1. There are upon the sole of the human foetus of two to three months four mounds situated interdigitally along the line of the metatarso-phalangeal joints. Three mounds exist in a similar situation upon the palm of the foetus of the same age. In the foot the mounds disappear. Upon the hand they persist as the less definite " mounts " of palmistry.
  2. These mounds are homologous with the walking pads of some mammals, and have a direct relation to the " centers of disturbance " of the epidermic ridges upon the palms and soles of man and other primates.
  3. Corresponding with a poorer development of these mounds upon the hand than on the foot in the foetus, the " centers of disturbance " occur upon the foot more frequently than upon the hand in the adult.


Fig. 5. — Palm of a foetus of Evotomys gapperi.


Fig. 6. — Palm of Inuus (from Kollmann after Purkinje).



Harvard University, May 23, 1899

Bibliography

Alix, M. Recherches sur la disposition des lignes papillaires de la main et du pied. Ann. des Set. Nat. Tome viii, 1867, pp. 295-362, et Tome ix, 1868, pp. 5-42, avec Pis. 2-5. Galton, Francis. Finger Prints. London, 1892.


Klaatsch, H. Zur Morphologie der Tastballen der Saiigethiere. Morph. Jahrb. Bd. xiv, pp. 407-435, Tomes xvii and xviii, 1888.

Kollmann, Arthur. Der Tastapparat der Hand der menschlichen Rassen und der Affen in seiner Entwicklung und Gliederung. Hamburg and Leipzig. Tomes i and ii, pp. 1-75, 1883.


Purkinje. Commentatio de examine physiologico organi visus et systemmatis cutanei. Vratislav, 1823.


Wilder, H. H. On the Disposition of the Epidermic Folds upon the Palms and Soles of the Primates. Anat. Anz. Bd. xiii, pp. 250 256, 1897.



Cite this page: Hill, M.A. (2024, March 28) Embryology Paper - Pads on the palm and sole of the human foetus. Retrieved from https://embryology.med.unsw.edu.au/embryology/index.php/Paper_-_Pads_on_the_palm_and_sole_of_the_human_foetus

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