Advances in Prosthetics A prosthesis is an artificial device that replaces a missing body part lost due to trauma, disease, or congenital conditions. Prosthetics are being revolutionized to encourage amputees to pursue their highest ambitions. Technologies are advancing in the field of prosthetics to make the lives of amputees more functional and the lives of prosthetics more similar. Denture care dates back to the Fifth Dynasty of Egypt. The foundations of the prosthetics started with crutches. They were made of wood and leather for greater comfort. A wooden toe was a big deal because it helps maintain balance and performs a function that helps you walk. Peg legs and hooks were later used. The fibers were used to give a sense of wholeness but were not functional. For the second or third rung, copper and wood were used. Iron was later used, but it was inconvenient due to its weight. Inventions were developed and expanded, for example the fixed position foot. Other inventions have become obsolete over the years, such as the use of iron, hand hooks, and wooden legs ("The History of Prosthetics"). The main reason why prosthetics became popular is because of the war. Prosthetics were used during the war mainly in armor. Outside of the war only wealthy people could afford them. After the civil war the number of amputees increased dramatically, consequently the demand for prosthetics became a necessity making prostheses more lifelike continues to grow (“The history of the prosthesis). The skin technologies that have been created recently are amazing muscles and nerves occurs when electrodes are permanently implanted in the nerves and muscles allowing the amputated limb to have total direct control. With this new muscle-to-nerve action