Osteoarthritis is a result of mechanical and biological events that lead to the degeneration of joints. Many pathological changes including the formation of osteophytes on the subchondral bone within the joint may induce the development of osteoarthritis. Osteophytes are defined as abnormal bony growths or bone spurs that typically develop around joints and they frequently occur in middle-aged and elderly subjects. Osteophytes may occur in any joint in the body and may pose different problems depending on their location. In this review, we choose to describe the most common locations of osteophytes such as: the knee joint, hip joint, ankle joint, shoulder joint, sacroiliac joint, vertebral column, and the joints in the hands and feet. Considering the fact that it is this variability that makes osteophytes clinically important, we hope the comprehensive information presented in this review about the clinical anatomy of osteophytes will be beneficial for the orthopedists.