A rongeur which functions to act on (or bite) bone while approaching the bone surface from an axial orientation is provided. In one embodiment, a rongeur is provided with a rotatably/pivotally coupled cutting jaw component to cause the cutting jaw to exert force on the bone. The rongeur may include an axially sliding component which provides axial force and actuates a cutting jaw such that it pivots toward a bone surface. Additionally, a lip feature which creates an opposing surface wherein the cutting jaw pivots toward that surface in order to bite the bone may also be provided. The lip feature may act as a shim between dura mater tissue and the inferior surface of a bone. An axial rongeur may be configured to bite and remove bone when placed while under the surface of a patients skin (e.g. after axially traversing a distance under the skin).
