Surgical gripping forceps are provided with one or two gripping jaws movable relative to a main body, wherein each moveable one of the gripping jaws has a pivot pin, fixed in position relative to the main body, and a lever arm. The lever arms are articulated via at least one push element. For this purpose each movable one of the gripping jaws has its own pivot pin. From the midline of the main body, the individual pivot pin has at least a distance greater than 38% of the maximum width of the main body or maximum diameter of the main body. The microsurgical gripping forceps operate with customary force for actuating the forceps, and permit a substantial applied clamping force.
