Surgical staple cartridges and end effectors for assessing a size of tissue stapled by the staple cartridge or otherwise manipulated by the end effector. In various forms, the staple cartridge has at least one series of measurement indicia on the deck base that may be viewed from above the desk surface when the anvil is clamping the tissue onto the staple cartridge. Other embodiments include structure for forming a mark on the cartridge deck that corresponds to a size of the tissue supported thereon. Methods for severing and stapling tissue are also disclosed.
