Human Anatomy, 10th edition

Published by Pearson (June 4, 2026) © 2027
  • Patricia Brady
  • Jon B. Mallatt

Title overview

For 1-semester courses in human anatomy.

A big-concept focus

Marieb Human Anatomy takes a functional anatomy approach, presenting a well-illustrated story highlighted with the right amount of detail for introductory students. Analogies and comparative descriptions make anatomical structures memorable and understandable, and explain how the shape and composition of structures allow them to perform their functions.

The 10th Edition aligns with the most recent HAPS-based Human Anatomy Learning Outcomes. Narrative is streamlined and revised to enhance clarity, and is updated with current research on structure, function, and clinical applications.

Hallmark features of this title

  • Engaging narrative presents anatomy through the lens of a story—a student-centric approach that offers exceptional coverage of the human body in describing anatomical structures and functional anatomy.
  • Focus Figures walk students through illustrations of key concepts to help them grasp tough topics. Large, dramatic layouts provide context for each concept or process.
  • Check Your Understanding features ask students thought-provoking questions to focus on the most cirical topics to understand before moving on.
  • Blue step text for select figures leads students through a process or pathway.
  • Surface anatomy photos show muscle definition and clear surface landmarks for skeletal, muscular and vascular structures.
  • Side-by-side presentations of artwork with cadaver or photomicrographs help students connect lecture images with key anatomical structures that they might see in the lab.

New and updated features of this title

  • Updated content throughout is based on current research on structure, function and clinical applications, including the glymphatic system and lymphatic drainage of the brain; dermatome boundaries reflecting clinical and experimental data; parasympathetic innervation of the heart; mapping of the motor homunculus; traumatic brain injuries and CTE; COVID-19 impacts on the respiratory system; and much more.
  • HAPS-based Human Anatomy Learning Outcomes: The 10th Edition is fully aligned with the most recent HAPS guidelines; a correlation guide between the text's Learning Outcomes and the HAPS Anatomy Learning Outcomes is provided with the instructor resources.
  • ADA updates have been made to reflect the latest WCAG guidelines to ensure our products are fully accessible to all learners.
  • A new Quick Reference to the Pearson+ eTextbook Integrated Media by Chapter is an easy guide to the key animations, videos, and 3D Models available for each chapter in the eTextbook and in Mastering.
  • More support available separately:

Key features

Features of Mastering A&P for the 10th Edition

  • Interactive Reading Assignments let students read, watch and practice in one seamless experience. Instructors can now assign specific sections of the eTextbook plus any item from Mastering for auto-grading. Pre-Built Interactive Reading Assignments can be easily customized and assigned to support any face-to-face, hybrid, or online class.
  • Practice Anatomy Lab 4.0 is now easy to customize and assign in Mastering to reflect only the anatomical structures you want your students to study and learn. This flexible virtual anatomy study and practice tool gives students 24/7 access to the most widely used lab specimens, including fully interactive 3D models, human cadaver, anatomical model, cat, fetal pig, sheep eye, sheep brain, cow eye, and histology dissection photos. PAL 4.0 is a SIIA CODiE Award winner in the Best Virtual Lab category.
  • AI Study Tool in Mastering Assignments helps students work through problems similar to the ones they’re struggling with, asking questions that encourage them to arrive at the correct answer while offering explanations and definitions. The new AI Instructor Tool allows you to describe the content you’re looking for, and the AI tool will find it and help you build your assignment.
  • Dynamic Study Modules reflect new content and now include shadow questions to prevent students from memorizing questions. Gap Finder: A&P Diagnostic assesses prerequisite knowledge in 5 areas: Study Skills, Math, Chemistry, Cell Biology and Biology Basics.
  • Revised and expanded Mastering Question Bank include updated Drag-and-Drop Art Labeling Activities, Roots to Remember, Focus Figure Coaching Activities, A&P Flix Quiz, Dissection Video Quiz, Reading and Chapter Tests, Clinical Scenario and Application Questions, new Histology Quiz, and more. ,
  • Student Study Area features a wealth of Mastering’s great learning tools for both lecture and lab including Study by Chapter, A&P Flix 3D animations, PAL 4.0, Bone and Dissection Videos, Lab Manual Study Area and more plus brand-new TEAS and HESI EXAM practice questions to help A&P students get ready for their nursing school entrance exams.
  • Instructor Resources area offers one-stop shopping for Resources by Chapter, Instructor Guide. Correlation Guide for HA10e Learning Outcomes and HAPS Human Anatomy Learning Outcomes, Teaching Strategies for Active Learning ,Test Bank, PowerPoint Lecture Tools (all figures in JPEG and PPT format), Instructor Guide for Marieb/Smith’s Human Anatomy Laboratory Manual with Cat Dissections 9th edition, animations & videos, PAL 4.0 Instructor Resources, and Brief Atlas of the Human Body 2nd edition.

Features of Pearson+ eTextbook for the 10th Edition

  • Expanded: Over 125 embedded animations and videos feature A&P Flix 3D animations, Bone and Organ Dissection Videos, Cat and Fetal Pig Dissection Videos, Histology Videos, and more. Videos are placed strategically to introduce or reinforce text content.
  • Over 45 new Practice Anatomy Lab (PAL 4.0) 3D Models have been hand-picked and embedded within the eText to encourage visualization of anatomical structures, spatial relationships, and more. These meticulously placed 3D Models include new Questions with Self-Check Answers align with narrative content to invite students to engage with the interactive for a deeper understanding of the topic at hand.
  • New Interactive Check Your Understanding questions in each chapter offer students frequent checkpoints and immediate feedback; they include multiple choice-and multiple-answer questions.
  • The new AI Study Tool pulls from vetted Pearson content to help students achieve proficiency and master key course concepts. Our generative AI chat tool goes beyond a one-size-fits-all approach to provide individualized support, practice and feedback that meet the unique needs of every learner.
  • The new Highlight to Translate feature lets students highlight any section (up to 10,000 characters) and click on the “Translate” option to instantly translate content into over 130 different languages.
  • Interactive Roots to Remember word root vocabulary exercises strengthen the anatomic and clinical terminology skills essential for those pursuing medical fields.

Table of contents

  1. The Human Body: An Orientation
  2. Cells: The Living Units
  3. Basic Embryology
  4. Tissues
  5. The Integumentary System
  6. Bones and Skeletal Tissues
  7. Bones, Part 1: The Axial Skeleton
  8. Bones, Part 2: The Appendicular Skeleton
  9. Joints
  10. Skeletal Muscle Tissue
  11. Muscles of the Body
  12. Fundamentals of the Nervous System and Nervous Tissue
  13. The Central Nervous System
  14. The Peripheral Nervous System
  15. The Autonomic Nervous System and Visceral Sensory Neurons
  16. The Special Senses
  17. The Endocrine System
  18. Blood
  19. The Heart
  20. Blood Vessels
  21. The Lymphatic and Immune Systems
  22. The Respiratory System
  23. The Digestive System
  24. The Urinary System
  25. The Reproductive System

APPENDICES

  • The Metric System
  • Answers to Check Your Understanding, Multiple Choice, and Matching Questions

Author bios

About our authors

Patricia Brady Wilhelm’s interest in human anatomical form was sparked in college when she learned that the human skeleton could reveal an individual's age, sex, nutritional status, and even how many children a female had given birth to. She pursued this interest, earning a PhD from Brown University in biological and medical sciences. Dr. Brady has an extensive career as an undergraduate anatomy educator at Brown University, Rhode Island College, Community College of RI, and Johnson & Wales University. At the graduate level, Dr. Brady coordinates and teaches a clinically focused cadaver-based dissection course for the Johnson & Wales University Center for Physician Assistant Studies.

Dr. Brady's commitment to teaching has been recognized throughout her career with teaching excellence awards from Brown University and the Community College of Rhode Island. Dr. Brady embraces innovation in the classroom and laboratory, incorporating Project Based Learning, Process Oriented Guided Inquiry Learning (POGIL) activities, case studies, cooperative team-based dissection and other active learning strategies into her courses. The driving factor behind these innovations is the desire to aid student learning by making course materials accessible and to make the study of anatomy an active and interactive process. Outside the classroom, most mornings Dr. Brady can be found on the water rowing or pursuing another passion she developed in college.

Jon Mallatt earned his Ph.D. in Anatomy from the University of Chicago. Dr. Mallatt is currently a Clinical Faculty of the University of Washington's WWAMI Medical Education Program at the University of Idaho. Previously Dr. Mallatt served as Associate Professor of Biological Sciences at Washington State University, where he taught human anatomy to undergraduates of all backgrounds for 37 years. WWAMI honored him with their "Excellence in Teaching Award" in 1992, 1993, 1995, and 2000, and 2017.

Additionally, Dr. Mallatt is an adjunct Associate Professor in the department of Biological Structure at the University of Washington. His particular areas of expertise are histology, human and comparative anatomy, and anatomical drawing, although his research now focuses on the origin and evolution of consciousness among animals. Dr. Mallatt is an accomplished researcher, with 72 publications in a variety of fields ranging from vertebrate evolution to molecular phylogeny to neurobiology and consciousness studies.

Elaine N. Marieb (1936-2018) received her Ph.D. in zoology from the University of Massachusetts at Amherst. Shortly after she joined the faculty of the biology department at Holyoke Community College, Elaine famously enrolled in a nursing degree program while she was teaching anatomy and physiology to aspiring nursing students. This unique experience gave Elaine special insights into the foundational knowledge that nurses needed to master. Armed with this insight and a clear talent for teaching and writing, Elaine authored Human Anatomy & Physiology, which became an immediate hit with instructors and students.

A critical part of Elaine’s legacy is The Elaine Nicpon Marieb Charitable Foundation. The foundation has helped fund numerous science and nursing programs and scholarships at the College of Nursing at the University of Massachusetts, Florida Gulf Coast University, Holyoke Community College and Mount Holyoke College.

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