Segmentation of the thrust fault zone is a basic problem for earthquake hazard evaluation. The Yingjing-Mabian-Yanjin thrust fault zone is an important seismic belt NW-trending in the southeast margin of the Qinghai-Xizang (Tibet) plateau. The longitudinal faults in the thrust zone are mainly of the thrust slipping type. The late Quaternary motion modes and displacement rates are quite different from north to south. Investigation on valleys across the fault shows that the transverse faults are mainly of dextral strike-slipping type with a bit dip displacement. Based on their connections with the longitudinal faults, three types of transverse faults are generalized, namely: the separate fault, the transform fault and the tear fault, and their functions in the segmentation of the thrust fault zone are compared. As the result, the Yingjing-Mabian-Yanjin thrust fault zone is divided into three segments, and earthquakes occurring in these three segments are compared. The tri-section of the Yingjing-Mabian-Yanjin thrust fault zone identified by transverse fault types reflects, on the one hand, the differences in slip rate, earthquake magnitude and pace from each segment, and the coherence of earthquake rupturing pace on the other hand. It demonstrates that the transverse faults control the segmentation to a certain degree, and each type of the transverse faults plays a different role.