Android Architecture

See Google's [http://developer.android.com/guide/basics/what-is-android.html What is Android? page] for an overview of Android components, and a diagram of the architecture.

The diagram on that page appears in every presentation I have ever seen about Android technical topics (with the exception of my own).

Architecture Diagram
Here is the Android Architecture Diagram]

Breakdown of running Android system
A quick look at Android contents and programs running when Android starts is at:
 * http://benno.id.au/blog/2007/11/13/android-under-the-hood

Relation to the Linux kernel
Here is Greg Kroah-Hartmans presentation on Android from the CELF conference 2010, discussing how Google/Android work (or don't work) with the Linux community.