I have a 09 CX-7 GT AWD. My old suv truck was a rear wheel drive with AWD & 4wd capabilities. Just had a switch that let me go between 2wd, 4wd and AWD. Anyways, being rear wheel, it had a rear differential in which periodically, you undid a bolt on it and stuck your finger in to make sure it was full enough, smelled it, etc..
I suspect you can do the same to the front. Furthermore, my old truck had a transfer case. My understanding is that it "TRANSFERS" X amount of power to the front or rear wheels when required. In full time 4 Wheel drive, it means all wheels get the same amount of power, all the time.
AWD means that the transfer case transfers a certain amount of power to the required wheels when the other wheels are slipping. That means, in rear wheel drive, power is transferred to the front. In front wheel drive, the power is transferred to the rear.
So back to your question, technology has changed and/or improved from my old truck, but I suspect that there is still a transfer case of sorts that should be looked after too.