[Objective] To investigate the etiology of body mass index (BMI) and the topology and architecture of the lumbar spine in the occurence of degenerative lumbar spondylolisthesis (DLS). [Methods] A retrospective study was conducted on 198 patients who visited our hospital from June 2016 to May 2018, and were suffered from low back pain and leg pain. 95 patients with DLS were enrolled as the research group. Another 103 healthy patients without degenerative spondylolisthesis were selected as the control. Stand full spine X-ray examination, CT scan and MRI were done in two groups. BMI was calculated and spinopelvic parameters including pelvic incidence(PI), pelvic tilt(PT), sacrum slope(SS), lumbosacral angle(LA) and lumbar lordosis(LL) were measured by X-ray image. The degree of degeneration of facet joints was classified and the angle formed with facet joints and coronal of the vertebral bodies of L3, L4 and L5 were measured under CT window of bone. The diseased intervertebral disc degeneration grades were classified according to modified Pfirrmann evaluation system. [Results] There was no significant difference between the DLS group and the control in BMI, PT, SS, LA and LL (P＞0.05). The DLS group was significantly superior to the control in the PI (P＜0.05). The angle of the lumbar facet joint in L4-5 was significantly higher in the DLS group (P＜0.05). The degree of degeneration of facet joints in L4-5 and the modified Pfirrmann evaluation of lumbar disc degeneration are correlated with DLS.[Conclusion]The degeneration degrees of facet joint and lumbar disc are heavy in patients with DLS. Large PI and sagittal facet joint orientation of L4-5 are important risk factors in the development of DLS.