Foreword

Comparative anatomy is an ancient field of science, with roots that stretch millennia into the past. But it is also a modern and dynamic discipline, with new techniques applied to make novel discoveries that could barely have been imagined mere years ago. Since its origins, the vertebrate lineage has evolved to produce an astonishing range of variations and new species—from placoderms to pangolins to people—which despite their variety are linked by the common components of their body plan. As vertebrates ourselves, understanding the structure, function, development, and evolution of this body plan holds inherent fascination as well as practical interest. By helping us understand the foundations of our own construction, comparative anatomy also provides keys to understanding our place in the history of life.

There has been a long tradition of well-written textbooks to help students navigate the concepts and content of comparative anatomy. But the advent of new knowledge, techniques, and perspectives makes a fresh entry into this tradition welcome. Comparative Vertebrate and Human Anatomy brings together an outstanding team of authors to update and refresh how the discipline is presented to students. Thoughtfully centered around five core concepts that emerged from a workshop held by scientists from the Society for Integrative and Comparative Biology (and later developed in a publication in its journal, Integrative Organismal Biology: Danos, Nicole, Katie Lynn Staab, and Lisa B. Whitenack, “The core concepts, competencies, and grand challenges of comparative vertebrate anatomy and morphology,” Integrative Organismal Biology 4 (2022): obac019), the text begins with an outline of overarching themes in comparative anatomy and follows with detailed treatment of the specific organ systems and their variation across vertebrate groups. With Focus Questions to guide reading and numerous boxes highlighting recent studies, major questions, and active learning opportunities, the structure of the text emphasizes engagement with this vibrant, modern field. The authors take care to acknowledge that the history of anatomy is rife with examples of exclusionary and ethically compromised practices. But with a care that shows their love of the discipline, the authors have devoted their efforts to make comparative anatomy a field that is widely accessible to students and welcomes inquiry. Comparative anatomy has a bright future, and we hope that the Comparative Vertebrate and Human Anatomy text will help students for years to come learn about this field and contribute to its future.

Richard W. Blob, Clemson University
Melina E. Hale, University of Chicago
L. Patricia Hernandez, The George Washington University
January 30, 2025