A combined retractor and endoscope system includes a retraction ring and an endoscope unit. The retraction ring includes a tubular inner surface defining a passageway. The endoscope unit includes a flexible arm that can be positioned stably and moved between an edge of an incision and an outer peripheral surface of the retraction ring, and a camera attached to one end of the flexible arm. In a preferred embodiment, the flexible arm has a flexible outer tube body incorporating a support strip that can be bent together with the outer tube body to retain a bent configuration of the outer tube body.
