A surgical access apparatus comprising: a liner base (104) including a lower ring (170) adapted for insertion through an opening within body tissue, an access housing (102) having an upper ring (172) adapted to be positioned outside body tissue and a sleeve (168) interconnecting said lower and upper rings (172), at least a portion of said liner base (104) adapted for positioning within the opening in the body tissue to line the opening and retract the body tissue defining the opening, a tensioning member (182) extending between the upper ring (172) and lower ring (170) configured and dimensioned to displace the lower ring (170) toward the upper ring (172) upon rotation of the upper ring (172) an outer base ring (106) forming a seal with the upper ring (172) of the liner base (104) and being releasable therefrom, the outer base ring (106) and upper ring (172) of the liner base (104) maintaining the relative position of the upper and lower rings (172, 170) and a seal (142), at least partially supported by the access housing (102) and providing access to the opening in the body tissue.
