Abstract: Objective To study the type, the angle and the obliquity of facet joints and to identify the approach for the facet joint puncture in adult cervical vertebra. Methods Thirty eight spines of 27 male and 11 female cadavers were used to observe the type and angle of CSUB>2-3/SUB>-C SUB>6-7/SUB>on the transverse section. The obliquity and shape of the facet joint were also studied in 40 adult cadaveric spines. Results The joints in CSUB>2-3/SUB>-C SUB>6-7/SUB> were classified as the plane oval(79.2%) or curved surface(20.8%) types. The joint angles and articular processes were gradually increased from C2-3to C6-7. The obliquities of joint planes were CSUB>3/SUB>＞CSUB>4/SUB>＞CSUB>5/SUB>CSUB>6/SUB>CSUB>7/SUB>, and their values were distributed as a “U” shape. The middle part of the joints was located at the outside of the posterior midline and at the midpoints between spinous processes of cervical vertebra. The distance from the middle part to the posterior midline increased gradually downward from 17.19mm, 17.51mm, 18.76mm, 19.83mm to 20.52mm. The tissue layers during the puncture approach went through skin, superficial fascia, ligamentum nuchae, splenius capitis muscle and the posterior of joint capsule. Conclusion In adult cervical vertebra, facet joint puncture should be performed at the outside (17.2-20.5mm) of the midpoint between corresponding cervical space according to the type, the angle and the obliquity of joint plane. The puncture direction should be caudally tilted at 55°-67°（average 60°）and advanced obliquely

Key words: Facet joint of cervical vertebra, Joint type, Joint angle, Puncture path, Applied anatomy, Human