A surgical stapling apparatus includes a handle assembly, an elongate tubular body extending distally from the handle assembly, and an end effector extending distally from the elongate tubular body. The end effector includes a staple cartridge assembly having a tissue facing surface defining retention slots and a central longitudinal slot. The retention slots are disposed in rows along the tissue facing surface, and each of the retention slots has an arcuate shape including a concave surface and a convex surface.
