This might be a series of articles rather than a formal textbook but they should prove highly valuable to anyone studying human anatomy and physiology.
Free Online Online Textbooks for Medical Students Textbooks
Medical related textbooks are without a doubt some of the most expensive in the marketplace. They are also some of the books most likely to be out of date before they hit the presses.
Medical science is perhaps one of the most crucial for students to have the most accurate and up-to-date information possible. Open textbook and living textbook initiatives are both a blessing and a curse in this field. Practitioners have to balance a rush to publish with maintaining standard research protocols.
For the most part, I’m sticking to medical textbooks in this section so hopefully the materials are well-vetted and well-designed. My only frame of reference is that of a patient so I will try my best to ensure that only top quality resources are included here but medical students should use their own judgement.
As with all of the free textbook category sections on Online Degree Discussion, I invite students and educators to let me know of any available materials that I may have missed.
List of Free Online Online Textbooks for Medical Students Textbooks
Anatomy Articles
Atlas of Human Anatomy in Cross Section
Not a traditional textbook but an invaluable resource for students who are studying human anatomy. It was written by academic experts at the University of Iowa and explores the topic of sectional anatomy. High resolution slides and diagrams are clearly marked with each structure. The work is divided into the following sections: Head and Neck; [...]
Atlas of Microscopic Anatomy – A Functional Approach: Companion to Histology and Neuroanatomy
This microscopic anatomy textbook is edited by a trio of professors in the Department of Anatomy at The University of Iowa – Ronald A. Bergman, PhD; Adel K. Afifi, M.D. and Paul M. Heidger, Jr., Ph.D. The text is designed for students but the authors hope that their extensive coverage of tissue staining methods will [...]
Dermatology
eMedicine’s open access textbook on dermatology. Each chapter is written by a different physician and each physician is able to update their chapter as new information is discovered. Not only a great medical school textbook, this resource would also be a good reference for anyone seeking information regarding their own dermatological condition.
Dermatology Outlines
This free, no-registration website contains a large amount of information on dermatology with an emphasis on dermatopathography. Chapter titles include: Drugs; Clinical Dermatology; Skin-Melanocytic tumors; Skin-Nonmelanocytic tumors; Soft Tissue Tumors Part 1-Intro, Infections, Fibroblastic; Soft Tissue Tumors Part 2-Fibrohistiocytic and Adipose; Soft Tissue Tumors Part 3-Muscle, Vascular, Nerve, Other; CD Markers, CD1 to CD49; CD [...]
Doctor Fungus
This site offers what is basically a continuously updated electronic mycology textbook. But, there’s nothing basic about this site. It discusses over 100,000 species of fungi with information on the treatment of specific types of fungal infections, anti-fungal agents, lab procedures and an absolutely huge image bank. Access to the materials is free and does [...]
Dr. Quinn’s Online Textbook of Otolaryngology: Grand Rounds Archive
Listed as a textbook, Dr. Francis B. Quinn, Jr., has compiled an extensive list of informative articles that could easily make up the chapters of a book. He is a professor emeritus in the Department of Otolaryngology at The University of Texas Medical Branch in Galveston, Texas. The series is intended for medical professionals but [...]
eMedicine
The folks from WebMD have compiled an extensive collection of writings presented in textbook form from a number of medical specialties. Each chapter identifies the authorship, contact information and project status. The text is aimed at medical professionals but does not require any sort of membership or registration. Topics are broadly grouped into Medicine, Surgery [...]
Free Books 4 Doctors
When I last visited this site, it was home to 360 free books on topics ranging from Allergies to Yellow Fever. Most of the books I saw were published post 2000. There are no registration requirement or other limitations to using this site.
Medicines By Design
This online medical textbook discusses how medicines work in the body and how this information guides future drug research. Textbook is offered by the National Institute of General Medical Services and an unidentified author.