When it is said that something is counterpart, it is meant that this or that is the same as another. For instance, the words car and vehicle turn out to be homologous, as well as donkey and donkey.
Another use that also supports the term refers to that person who performs activities, functions or positions similar to those performed by another person, for example, in the competitor's company. Juan, the sales manager, will meet with his peers from the competition to define the bases of the association that will integrate them.
On the other hand, the word homologous allows to refer to that which presents the same form or behavior. It is noted that Juana and María are twins, their physical resemblance and their homologous behavior really amaze.
And in the areas of Botany and Zoology, the word homologous is used to refer to the part of the body or organ that is similar in the following matters: by its origin in the embryo, by the relationships it maintains with other organs and by the position it occupies in the body, although it may differ in its appearance and function. Meanwhile, in the field of biology it is called homology to the relationship established between two different organic parts in the case that their genetic determinants have the same evolutionary origin.
There will be homology between the organs of two different species if they come from the same organ that belonged to a common ancestor. For example, the end of the horse's leg turns out to be homologous to the human middle finger and foot, or the whale's fin is homologous to the primate hand.
Meanwhile, the concept that opposes the aforementioned homology is that of analogy, since this implies a structure similar to another, or failing that, that has the same function, although embryonic development and origin are different, that is, there is no common ancestor that causes it, but rather it occurs as a consequence of evolutionary convergence.
