Abstract: An RF receiver coil structure for NMR imaging of a human head attached by a neck to a body (normally lying horizontally), having ear positions, and having a defined axis generally along a line extending from the top of the head through the neck. The coil lies primarily in a coil plane which is horizontal, and thus is properly oriented with reference to the main field orientation of an NMR system. The coil is generally oval in configuration, having sides and defined upper and lower ends spaced by an oval height. The coil is sized for positioning around the head oriented such that the coil upper end is adjacent to the top of the head, the coil sides are generally adjacent to the ear positions, and the defined head axis lies in the defined coil plane.