Surgical instrument (1) having a proximal portion and a distal portion, the distal portion arranged for separating tissue. The instrument comprises a substantially rigid first elongated member (3) and a second elongated member (5). The first and second members extend adjacent each other, and are longitudinally translatable along each other. In the distal portion, the first and second members are connected with a first lever (7), which is rotatable with respect to the first and second members about a first hinge (13) and a second hinge (15), respectively, such that by a longitudinal translation of the first and second members the lever rotates for spreading tissue and the angle (α) enclosed between the first member and an imaginary line crossing the first and second hinges increases.
