Fuel pump, in particular for an internal combustion engine with direct injection

A fuel pump (22), in particular for an internal combustion engine (12) with direct injection, the pump comprising

• a housing (38),
• at least one piston (40) which is received in the housing (38),
• drive means (42), which put the piston (40) into a reciprocating motion,
• a work chamber (44) which is defined in some regions by the piston (40),
• an inlet conduit (48) and an outlet conduit (50), each of which can be made to communicate with the work chamber (44),
• a first valve device (64) between the work chamber (44) and the inlet conduit (48)
• a second valve device (74) between the work chamber (44) and the outlet conduit (50),
• each valve device (64, 74) having a movable valve element
• the movable valve element (62) of one valve device (64) having a guide portion (60), which is received at least in some regions in a guide opening (58), embodied in the movable valve element (72) of the other valve device (74), and
• the circumferential face of the guide portion (60) and/or of the guide opening having at least one recess (88), by means of which the contact area between the guide portion (60) and the guide opening (58) is reduced.