An endoscope (1) comprising a control handle (2), a flexible insertion portion (3) having length L1 and being attached to the distal end of the control handle, a bending portion (4) having length L2 and being attached to the distal end of the flexible insertion portion, a rigid tip portion (5) having length L3 and being attached to the distal end of the bending portion, a control mechanism arranged to control the bending of the bending portion, and an elastic covering member (12) which is arranged to cover the bending portion and where the distal end of said elastic covering member is attached to the distal end (16) of said bending section and/or to said rigid tip portion (14) and where the proximal end of said elastic covering member is attached to the flexible insertion portion (18) and/or to the proximal end of the bending portion. The elastic covering member is arranged such that it is stretched when the bending portion is in its neutral position. In this way a low cost and flexible bending portion is provided.制御操作部(2)と、長さL1を有し、前記制御操作部の遠位端に取り付けられるフレキシブル挿入部分(3)と、長さL2を有し、前記フレキシブル挿入部分の遠位端に取り付けられる屈曲部分(4)と、長さL3を有し、前記屈曲部分の遠位端に取り付けられる剛性先端部分(5)と、前記屈曲部分の屈曲を制御するように構成される制御機構と、前記屈曲部分を覆うように配置される弾性カバー部材(12)であって、前記弾性カバー部材の遠位端が前記屈曲部分の遠位端(16)および/または前記剛性先端部分(14)に取り付けられ、前記弾性カバー部材の近位端が前記フレキシブル挿入部分(18)および/または前記屈曲部分の近位端に取り付けられる、弾性カバー部材(12)と、を備える内視鏡(1)である。 前記弾性カバー部材が、前記屈曲部分がそのニュートラルな位置にあるとき、伸張されるように配置される。このようにすると、低価格かつフレキシブルな屈曲部分を提供できる。
