In 100 normal subjects who had a sonographic examination of the neck, 1211 lymph nodes were detected. In all the subjects, at least five lymph nodes were seen. The distribution, number, echogenicity, shape, presence or absence of echogenic hilus, and the sharpness of nodal borders of normal cervical lymph nodes were determined. The usefulness of these sonographic features in understanding the normal distribution and characteristics of the nodes in the Chinese population is discussed. The relationship between the shape and size of lymph node also was assessed.