The Human Body in Health and Illness
Herlihy · 8th Edition
Complete chapter-by-chapter study guide aligned with The Human Body in Health and Illness (8th Edition). Includes summaries, learning objectives, and NCLEX-style practice questions for all 27 chapters.
Overview
The Human Body in Health and Illness, 8th Edition, is Barbara Herlihy's approachable anatomy and physiology text that pairs normal structure and function with what goes wrong in disease, and this study guide follows it chapter for chapter across all 27 chapters. You start with an introduction to the human body, basic chemistry, cells, cell metabolism, and microbiology, then work through tissues and every major system — integumentary, skeletal, muscular, nervous, sensory, endocrine, cardiovascular, lymphatic, immune, respiratory, digestive, and urinary — before finishing with fluid and acid-base balance, reproduction, and human development and heredity. For each chapter you get a plain-English summary that captures the core ideas, a set of learning objectives placed at the top so you can see your target before you read, and NCLEX-style practice questions with a full rationale for every option. The rationales are written to explain why the wrong choices are wrong, so you leave each section understanding the material rather than just recognizing it. Herlihy's book is known for connecting healthy physiology to illness, and the guide keeps that thread: as you review the heart in two chapters — anatomy first, then function — or trace blood vessels and special circulations, you also reinforce why disruptions matter clinically. Each section is short enough to complete in one study block and printable so you can highlight, annotate, and bring it to class or lab. Use it to prep for unit exams, to review before a practical, or to build the health-and-illness foundation you will carry into pharmacology and medical-surgical nursing. Along the way you will practice the vocabulary and pathophysiology links that instructors love to test, from body-temperature regulation to immune defenses. It is a companion you can keep and reuse across the whole program. Original, independently written, and not affiliated with the publisher.
Aligned with anatomy and physiology courses that emphasize the link between normal function and disease, with NCLEX-style questions that reflect how the material is tested on course exams and the licensure exam.
- 810+ practice questions
- 27 chapters
- ~120 pages
- Instant PDF download
What you'll learn
The major topics this guide walks you through, matched to the textbook's order:
- Basic chemistry and cell metabolism
- Microbiology basics
- Tissues and membranes
- The integumentary system and body temperature
- The skeletal and muscular systems
- Nervous tissue, brain, and spinal cord
- The autonomic and sensory systems
- The endocrine system
- Blood and the anatomy and function of the heart
- Blood vessels and special circulations
- The lymphatic and immune systems
- The respiratory and digestive systems
- The urinary system and acid-base balance
- Reproduction, development, and heredity
Need the textbook itself?
The textbook itself, by Barbara Herlihy, is a reader-friendly anatomy and physiology text that consistently ties healthy structure and function to what happens in illness, making it a favorite in nursing and allied-health courses.
Buy new, rent, or find a used copy of The Human Body in Health and Illness below. Make sure you get the 8th Edition — editions differ, so double-check the ISBN on the listing before you order. We earn a small commission if you buy through these links — your price is unchanged.
Chapters covered
Every chapter below is fully covered in the PDF — summary, learning objectives, key terms, and NCLEX-style practice questions with rationales.
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Get a quote from NSOQuestions about this study guide
What exactly do I get?
A printable PDF study guide covering all 27 chapters of The Human Body in Health and Illness (8th Edition) — chapter summaries, learning objectives, and NCLEX-style practice questions with rationales. One file, lifetime access, no subscription.
How soon will I get it?
Instantly. A download link appears on screen and lands in your inbox the moment your payment clears.
Does this match the 8th Edition specifically?
Yes — it is built around the 8th Edition and follows its 27-chapter sequence, including the split coverage of the heart's anatomy and function. Most content still lines up with the 7th Edition if that is what your course uses.
Does it cover the illness side, not just anatomy?
Yes — like the textbook, the summaries and questions connect normal physiology to common disease processes, which is exactly how Herlihy's book is organized.
Will it match my edition?
This guide is built around the 8th Edition. If your class uses a different edition, chapter numbering may shift slightly, but the topics and learning objectives are usually unchanged.
Do I still need the textbook?
The study guide is a companion, not a replacement — it helps you study efficiently and review fast, but you'll still want the textbook for full depth and any assigned readings. You can buy new, rent, or find a used copy through the price links on this page.
What if it is not what I expected?
Every purchase is backed by a 14-day money-back guarantee — email us within 14 days for a full refund.
Is this a test bank or copied from the textbook?
No. This is an original study guide written to align with The Human Body in Health and Illness — summaries, objectives, and practice questions with rationales, not a reproduced publisher test bank or copied text.
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About this study guide
This is an original study guide written to align with the topics and learning objectives covered in The Human Body in Health and Illness (8th Edition) by Herlihy. It is not affiliated with, endorsed by, or licensed by the publisher or the textbook's authors. All summaries, practice questions, and explanations are independently authored.