Question

Which one of the following groups of structures organs have similar function?

• A. Typhlosole in earthworm, intestinal villi in rat and contractile vacuole in Amoeba.
• B. Nephridia in earthworm, Malpighian tubules in cockroach and urinary tubules in rat.
• C. Antennae of cockroach, tympanum of frog and clitellum of earthworm.
• D. Incisors of rat, gizzard (proventriculus) of cockroach and tube feet of starfish.

Answer 1

The correct option is B Nephridia in earthworm, Malpighian tubules in cockroach and urinary tubules in rat.

Homologous organs are those which are similar in morphology and anatomy and genetic but perform different functions such as arms of human beings, forelimbs of a cat and wings of a bat. The superficially similar and anatomically dissimilar structures performing the similar functions are known as analogous structures. The nephridium found in the invertebrates performs the similar functions of vertebrate kidney. In arthopods and annelids this function of excretory gland is performed by the malpighian tubules in cockroaches and urinary tubules in rats.