A slender insertion section of the endoscope has an endoscope distal-end portion, a tubular body and a bending portion 9, all extending along the longitudinal axis of the insertion section. The bending portion 9 is arranged between the distal-end portion and the tubular body. The insertion section has an inner component 30. The bending portion has an annular ring assembly composed of a plurality of annular rings 76 arranged side by side. Each annular ring has a ring body 76a, a pair of bulging portion 82 that face at one end face of the ring body, and a plurality of projections 78 which the inner component 30 can move. The most distal annular ring of the annular ring assembly supports one end of a wire 66. The wire 66 passes through the annular rings 76 and has its other end coupled to an operation section of the endoscope.
