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.

The coxal bone, also known as the pelvis, is composed of three main regions: the ilium, ischium, and pubis. The ilium is the most superior of these structures, forming the iliac crests that serve as the origin and insertion for several muscles. The ischium and pubis are inferior to the ilium and join together to form the obturator foramen, with the ischium posterior to the pubis. The acetabulum is the smooth depression, or fossa, in the hip bone where the head of the femur sits. The ilium, ischium, and pubis all come together to form the acetabulum.

The coccyx is also known as the tailbone, and is an extension of the spinal column.

Anatomical definitions determine the thigh to be the region between the knee and hip, and the leg to be the region between the knee and ankle. The thigh houses the femur, while the leg houses the tibia and fibula. The fibula articulates with the talus, one of the seven bones found in the ankle, at its distal end and the femur at its proximal end. This distal articulation is part of the ankle joint, while the proximal articulation is part of the knee joint.

The tibia is the larger bone of the two, and is responsible for carrying the majority of the weight of the lower limb.

The seven tarsal bones, including the three cuneiform bones, form the posterior of the foot immediately distal to the heel. Together with the five metatarsals and the fourteen phalanges, these twenty-six bones allow for the tremendous distribution of force necessary for bipedal locomotion.