• A unifying strategy to map homologous cranial and visceral muscles across a broad range of vertebrates using topographical anatomy to infer developmental and evolutionary relationships, as reflected in comparative cranial musculature across mammals, birds, reptiles, amphibians, and fishes. [1], [4], [5], [3], [2], [11]

• Metameric segmentation and explicit discussion of homologous parts provide a framework for cross-structure comparisons, driving claims about true sameness of parts across different body segments from fins to jaw complexes. [2], [13], [3], [11]

• Ontogeny takes center stage as evidence for evolutionary change, with developmental studies of head and jaw muscles, fins, and visceral structures informing homology and lineage relationships. [1], [4], [5], [13]

• Topographical anatomy as a descriptive and clinically relevant method, underpinning the construction of anatomy frameworks and understanding functional relationships in muscles and neural pathways, from cranial musculature to spinal tracts. [1], [5], [19], [2], [9]