A vertical magnetic field type MRI apparatus is capable of
high-speed-imaging a large cross section such as a whole human body while
suppressing an increase in the number of channels and maintaining
sensitivity to a deep portion of a subject to be high. A receiving coil
is composed of a plurality of sub coils. A first sub coil (3-1) of the
receiving coil is arranged in a first plane (1001) including an axis
substantially parallel to the direction of a static magnetic field and
forms a first current loop around the surface of the subject. A second
sub coil (5-1) of the receiving coil is constituted by a pair of
conductor loops (5-2, 5-3) that sandwich the subject in the vicinities of
the surface of the subject and are arranged substantially symmetrically
each other. The conductor loops have respective cross points (5-4, 5-5).
The conductor loops are arranged with the first sub coil to ensure that
the cross points are located in the first plane in which the current loop
of the first sub coil is provided. An electromagnetic coupling between
the first and second sub coils is not generated. The second sub coil
exhibits a sensitivity distribution symmetrical to the direction of the
static magnetic field. The first and second sub coils are arranged as a
basic configuration and combined with each other to ensure that an
electromagnetic coupling with another sub coil that exhibits a
sensitivity distribution symmetrical to x and y directions is suppressed.