The surgical instrument (10) according to the invention comprises a jaw tool (16) with two branches (20a, 20b) that can be closed for grasping tissue. In order to transmit the closing force to at least one branch (20a, 20b), the branch (20a, 20b) is coupled with a preferably manually actuatable pull/push element (50), and, for coupling, an actuating pin (46) that supports a sleeve (70) interacts via the sleeve with a coupling track (65a, 65b； 66a, 66b), in which case the sleeve rolls off the coupling track (65a, 65b； 66a, 66b). In this manner, any deformation, abrasion or burr formation on the coupling track (65a, 65b； 66a, 66b) is prevented to such an extent that, even after numerous closing movements of the branches (20a, 20b), said branches can still be actuated unimpaired by any wear of the coupling track (65a, 65b； 66a, 66b) and the actuating pin (46), respectively.
