A puncture needle for ultrasound biopsy used in combination with an ultrasonic endoscope includes: a sheath inserted into an insertion channel of the ultrasonic endoscope so as to be capable of advancing and retracting an operation part that is provided at a proximal-end part of the sheath, and doubles as a gripping part which a user grips a needle tube that is inserted into the sheath, includes an opening formed in a distal-end region thereof, and configured to puncture a tissue in a body cavity and a releasing mechanism that is fitted to a proximal-end side of the needle tube, and releases a substance filled therein from the opening of the needle tube to an outside. The needle tube is rotated around a longitudinal axis of the insertion channel by receiving a force from an inner wall of the insertion channel such that an axis line matching a direction of the opening in the needle tube protruding from the insertion channel becomes substantially parallel with an ultrasonic scanning face of the ultrasonic endoscope.
