A bending instrument 12 for a surgical element 14 is provided. The bending instrument 12 comprises two branches 16, 18 which are pivotable relative to one another, a bending punch 46, two counter members 32, 34 for the bending punch 46, an actuating device 52 for the bending punch 46, adapted to convert an actuating movement of the branches 16, 18 into a linear movement of the bending punch 46 in a direction towards a region between the two counter members 32, 34 in order to bend the surgical element 14 therebetween, first and second bending structures 70, 72 for co-operatively bending the surgical element 14, wherein the bending instrument 12 is configured to convert an actuating movement of the branches 16, 18 into a mating movement of the first and second bending structures 70, 72.
