Primary curvature is found in newborns, whereas secondary curvature develops over time. The thoracic and sacral portions of the vertebral column are convex, giving babies a more hunched posture.

Atlas is another term for C1. Its superior articular facets receive the condyles of the occipital bone in the skull, which allows the neck to move backwards and forwards. The axis, or C2, has a superiorly projecting dens that distinguishes it from the atlas.

The hyoid bone acts as an attachment point for many muscles in the neck. When swallowing, the larynx is elevated and the epiglottis is removed from the glottis, allowing matter into the esophagus.

The spine has three natural curves when viewed from a saggital/lateral view. The "c-shaped" curvature (seen in the neck and lower back) is called lordosis, while the "reverse c-shape" (seen in the thoracic spine) is called kyphosis. Now that we have reviewed these terms, the follow describes normal curvature of the spine: Cervical - lordotic; thoracic - kyphotic; lumbar - lordotic; sacrococcygeal - kyphotic.

A spinous process is a bony projection off the posterior aspect of the vertebrae. The spinous process functions as a site of attachment for muscles and ligaments. The spinous processes of the thoracic spine are much longer compared to the cervical and lumbar vertebrae. Lumbar vertebrae have thicker, shorter, and more robust spinous processes, while cervical have short spinous processes. 

The lumbar vertebrae are the largest and most robust of the vertebrae as they need to support more weight than the rest of the spine. They are the only vertebrae that possess mammillary processes. The mammillary process is the site of attachment of the multifidus muscle, a muscle that runs the length of the spine to provide spinal support.

The vertebrae are irregular bones. These bones have a pointed, obscure shape that does not fit into any other standard category. Other irregular bones include the hyoid and sacrum. An example of a long bone is the femur. An example of a short bone are the carpal bones in the hands and feet. An example of a flat bone are the ribs. An example of a sutural bone is the bones of the skull.

There are 7 cervical vertebra. The thoracic region has 12, and the lumbar has 5. You can remember this by thinking of the regions as time of day. The morning (head/neck region) is at 7am, the middle of the day (thoracic) is at 12, and the end of the day (lumbar) is at 5pm. 

The leg is the section of the lower limb distal to the knee cap. The two bones of the leg are the tibia and fibula. The fibula is located posterolateral to the tibia, making the tibia the more anterior of the two.

The femur is located in the thigh, and the ilium forms part of the pelvis. These are both located proximal to the leg.

The cuboid does not articulate with the talus.

The calcaneus articulates with the talus to form the subtalar joint. The ankle joint is formed by the articulation of the talus with the tibia and fibula and is commonly injured as well in compression type injuries (usually a plafond fracture). The navicular articulates with the talus anteromedially.