The little toe is often thought to be vestigial, but in reality, it is not vestigial and still serves important functions. The fifth toe (little toe) plays a vital role in balance, walking, and running by helping to disperse impact forces and providing sensory feedback about terrain conditions. Its bone structure and tendons are designed for weight-bearing activities, and losing the little toe can cause stability issues and foot deformities. The common belief that the little toe no longer serves a purpose is largely due to changes in foot shape caused by modern footwear, not evolutionary loss of function. People in societies without restrictive footwear maintain the ancestral foot shape, where the little toe is aligned and functional.

While some evolutionary discussions suggest that smaller or less functional little toes may be more prevalent since losing it causes little survival disadvantage, anatomically and functionally, the little toe is still a meaningful and active part of foot mechanics. Surgical removal of the little toe is generally cosmetic and driven by the perception that it is useless, but orthopedics recognizes its importance for balance and structural support.

In summary, the little toe is not truly vestigial since it continues to have important biomechanical functions, despite cultural and medical tendencies to underestimate its usefulness. The idea of it being vestigial is more myth than fact based on current anatomical and evolutionary knowledge.