It is an object of the present invention to provide a high thermal conductive element that has improved thermal conductivity in the layer direction while retaining the high thermal conductivity characteristics in the planar direction possessed by graphite. The present invention is a high thermal conductive element in which carbon particles are dispersed in a graphite-based matrix, wherein (1) the c axis of the graphene layers constituting the graphite are substantially parallel, (2) the thermal conductivity .kappa..parallel. in a direction perpendicular to the c axis is at least 400 W/mk and no more than 1000 W/mk, and (3) the thermal conductivity .kappa..perp. in a direction parallel to the c axis is at least 10 W/mk and no more than 100 W/mk.