Foetal mouse foot. Coloured scanning electron micrograph (SEM) of a foot of a mouse foetus. The five toes can be seen. The raised bumps at the centre of the foot and near the end of the toes will develop into foot pads. The foot pads are a common part of the skin anatomy of mammals. They probably serve many functions, ranging from protecting the foot to providing sensitive tactile feedback and acting as shock absorbers in leaping animals.