Endoscope

An endoscope comprising:

• an insertion portion including a distal end on a distal end side thereof and inserted into a body cavity;
• a treatment instrument insertion channel disposed in the insertion portion and communicating with the distal end;
• a treatment instrument elevator base including a contact surface which comes in contact with a treatment instrument inserted into the treatment instrument insertion channel, the treatment instrument elevator base rotatably provided to the distal end to elevate the treatment instrument through the contact of the contact surface with the treatment instrument in accordance with the operation of operation portion;
• a contact portion provided to the distal end to be contactable with the treatment instrument when the treatment instrument elevator base is elevated;
• a first leading portion provided to the contact surface of the treatment instrument elevator base to lead the treatment instrument to a predetermined position on the contact surface in accordance with a rotating movement of the treatment instrument elevator base;
• a holding portion provided to the contact surface and the contact portion and including a grasping surface of a predetermined size for sandwiching, between the contact surface and the contact portion, the treatment instrument led by the first leading portion, the treatment instrument having a diameter not exceeding a predetermined value;
• and
• a second leading portion provided to the contact portion to lead and hold the treatment instrument in a direction away from the holding portion, the treatment instrument being larger in size than the grasping surface of the holding portion.