CORE EXPERIMENT-20

Homologous and Analogous Organs

INTRODUCTION
1 The term homologous organs was introduced by Richard owen.
The organs which have the same fundamental structure but are different in functions
are
called homotogous organs.
3 The organs which have similar functions but are different in their structural details and
origin are called analogous organs.
The homologous organs and
analogous organs offer evidence of organic evolution.

EXPERIMENT 20
Objective. To study homologous and analogous organs in various
animals and comment on them. plants and

1 Vertebrate Forelimbs (Homologous organs)

Mole (digging)

Basic pattern of
forelimb bones
Human Horse (running)
Humerus
(GraspingRadio Ulna carpals
Metacarpals
and Lizard
phalanges (climbing)

Frog (jumping)

Bat (tying)
Bird (fiying)

Whale (swimming)

Fig. 20.1. Homologous structures-vertebrate forelimbs.

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Comments
1. The forelimbs of frog. lizard. pigeon. mole, bat, whale, horse and human havo
same basic structural plan.
the
2 In each case the forelimb consists
of an
upper arm, fore arm, wrist, palm and fingers
3. The upper arm is always made up of humerus, the fore arm composed of radi
uina the wrist consists of carpals and the palm containing metacarpals and dioi
The skeletal parts of the forelimbs of all
vertebrates are in structure
arrangement. But the forelimbs of these animals have different shapes and funec.
similar and

tions.
5. In used for leaping, in lizard for creeping, in pigeon for flying, in
frog they are
mole
for in bat for flying, in whale for
digging, swimming, in horse for running and in
human for grasping.
Therefore, the above organs offer an example of homologous organs.
2. Homologous Organs Among Plants
Comments
1. In
plants the homologous organs may be a thorn
cucurbita, both arising in the axillary position.
in Bongainvillea or a tendril of

Lamina

Axillary
bud

Leaflets

A Stipules B
Leaf
Tendril

Branched
leaf spine

Leafy Leaves of
stipules axillary
shoot

Fig. 20.2. Homologous organs A, typical simple leaf;

B. pinnate compound leaf; C, leaf tendril of Pea;
D, leaf spine of Barberry.
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101
2. The leaves of higher
plants arise from nodes possess axillary buds and produce a gap
in the vascular supply of the stem.
3. In form the leaves
may be sessile petiolate, simple or compound, reduced to
modified into spines for protection and tendril's for scales,
4. These modifications indicate the evolution of
climbing
the organs to suit different functions.
3.3.
Wings or Flying Animals (Analogous organ
Comments
1. The wings of an insect are
of a bird and of a bat.
analogous to wings of Pterodactyl (extinct flying reptile),

Fore wing
Wingmembrane
Hind wing FeatheS

HumeruS
Radius

Hind foot

A. Insect B. Pterodactyl C. Bird

D. Bat
Fig. 20.3. The wings of (A) an insect are
analogous to wings of (B) Pterodactyl, (C) bird and (D) bat.
2. It is due to the fact that the basic
structure of the wings of the insects is different
from the wings of Pterodactyl, a bird a bat.
However, their function is similar.
44. Photosynthetie organs in some plants
Comments
1. Leaves are the plant
organs specialized for photosynthesis. However, there are
where the leaves are modified or reduced in plants,
response to a particular environment or
requirement.
2. The function of leaves is then taken
by other organs like stipules (e.g.
over
aphaca), petiole (e.g. Acacia auriculiformis) and stem branches (e.g. Lathyrus
Ruscus,
Asparagus).
3. Similarly plant tendrils meant for
are climbing. They can be desired from stem
branches (e.g. Passiflora), leaves (e.g. Lathyrus aphaca), leaf
apex (e.g. Gloriosa),
petiole (eg. Garden nasturtium) or stipules (e.g. Smilax).
4. They are the analogous organs amongst them.
. The presence of
analogous organs indicate a similar adaptation by unrelated groups
through modification or evolution of different parts.
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Leaf
Leaflet
LOGY-A
tendril
tendril

Stem
tendril Stipular
tendril

Petiole Leaf tip

tendril
D
-Tendril
E

Fig. 20.4. Analogous

organs. Tendrils of different
Prassiflora. B.Leaf tendril of origin. A. Stem
tendril of
sativm. D. Petiolar Lathyrus
tendril of Garden aphaca C.
Leaflet tendril of Pisum
Gloriosa. nasturtium. E. Leaf
F. Stipular tendrils of Smilax. apex tendril of

VIVA VOCE
Q.1. What
Ans. The
are
homologous organs?
organs which
called homologous have
organs.the same
fundamental structure but
Q.2. What are different in functions are
Ans. The analogous organs?
organs which have similar
origin are called functions but are
analogous organs. different in their
structural details and