COMPARATIVE

ANATOMY
 Comparative Anatomy
Studies the simimilarities and
differences in the structures of
organisms. Even if oganisms are
categorized as different species, there
are still similarities in their basic forms.

Homologous Analogous Vestigial

Homologous
Structures
Physiscal features or stucture shared due
to a commmon ancestor but that do not
neccessarily seve fhe same function .

Examples include:

HUMAN BAT
HORSE BIRD
CAT WHALE
Homologous Structures
The Pentadactyl Limb
The pentadactyl limb is one of the most Scapula
well-known examples of a homologous
Humerus
structure. It consists of the bones making
up the appendages of tetrapod
vertebrates and often refers to the ‘arm’,
although can also refer to the ‘leg’ as well. Radius

Ulna
Different bones will vary in size, thickness
and orientation dependent on what the Carpals
specific species use this limb for -
swimming, grasping, climbing, digging etc. Phalanges
Homologous Structures Word origins
penta = ‘five’

The Pentadactyl Limb dactyl = ‘finger’

Can you spot

the bones of
the pentadactyl
limb?
 Analogous Structures
Look similar and have similar function, but are anatomically
different and belong to unrelated organisms.

They share similarities because the organism experience or

live in similar environment for other wise known as
convergent evolution.

Examples

Wings of mammals, birds and insects

Dorsal fins of fish and marine mammals
Vestigial Structures
Anatomical structures that are present
but no longer functional in modern-day
organisms are known as vestigial
structures.

Wisdom teeth
Appendix/Caecum
Coccyx (tailbone)
Comparative Embryology
Embryos of different species show
similar due to likely having a common
ancestor.
Vertebrates are classified as such as they share the following set
of characteristics:

Hollow dorsal nerve cord - develops into a vertebral column

Pharyngeal pouch/gill slits
Notochord - develops into the spinal cord
Post-anal tail
GENETIC INFOMATION
It was only during the 20th century that DNA was
discovered as a genetic material.

Therefore genetic information as

evolutionary evidence through finding
similarities in DNA sequences is fairly
modern but by far provides the
strongest evidence in support of the
Also known as comparative
theory of evolution. biochemistry or genomics.
Genetic information