An anvil buttress retention system (28) to releasably secure an anvil buttress material (26) to an anvil (20) prior to stapling comprising: an anvil (20), a distally raised region (46) formed on an undersurface (48) of the anvil (20) and including proximally extending fingers or projections (50, 52)； and an anvil buttress material (24) releasably secured via the proximally extending fingers or projections (50, 52) to the distal end of the anvil (20).
