The line segment which in order radiation to do illumination light of 1st linearly polarized light direction from the advanced aspect of the insertion section vis-a-vis subject, in order incidence to do the reflected light from the subject which illuminates by 1st illumination optical system and the illumination light which are formed from the advanced aspect, the 1st objective optical system which is formed and, possesses the endoscope of this invention, 1st illumination optical system and as for 1st objective optical system, ties with the optical axis of 1st illumination optical system and the optical axis of 1st objective optical system on the advanced aspect, and, from 1st illumination optical systemPolarized light direction when the illumination light which radiation is done is projected to the advanced aspect and, possessing the relationship of the kind of position which becomes vertical or parallel, it is arranged respectively.本発明の内視鏡は、挿入部の先端面から被写体に対して第1の直線偏光方向の照明光を出射するように構成された第1の照明光学系と、照明光により照明された被写体からの戻り光を先端面から入射するように構成された第1の対物光学系と、を有し、第1の照明光学系及び第1の対物光学系は、先端面において、第1の照明光学系の光軸と第1の対物光学系の光軸とを結ぶ線分と、第1の照明光学系から出射された照明光を先端面に投影した場合の偏光方向と、が垂直または平行となるような位置関係を有してそれぞれ配置される。
