Which term describes the bottom or sole of the foot?

• A. Plantar surface
• B. Dorsal surface
• C. Abduction
• D. Adduction

Answer: (A)

The bottom of the foot is called the plantar surface. This term specifically names the sole that contacts the ground. The opposite surface, the top of the foot, is the dorsal surface. Abduction and adduction describe movements—abduction is moving away from the midline, adduction is moving toward the midline—not surfaces. So for identifying the bottom of the foot, plantar surface is the correct term, and it’s the term you’d use when talking about the sole in reflexology or anatomy.