A medical support arm may include a holding end, a coupling end, a coupling-end pivot joint for swiveling the support arm about a pivot axis (A1) and tilting the support arm about a tilt axis (A2), and a clamping mechanism with which the pivot joint can be locked or released as desired. The pivot joint allows the support arm to rotate exclusively about the tilt axis (A2) and the pivot axis (A1). A tilting device may have a tilting element and a cylindrical sliding surface on which the tilting element is seated. A pivot mechanism can have a guide ring and at least one ring guide surface that receives the guide ring. A tilting element, as part of the clamping mechanism, may be provided as a gripper clamp that secures both the tilting device and the pivot mechanism against rotation by clamping the central body.