Abstract: A surgical instrument for cutting and applying a plurality of surgical fasteners in the same direction to body tissue includes a frame having a proximal end and a distal end, with a handle positioned at the proximal end and an end effector positioned at the distal end. The end effector is shaped and dimensioned for supporting a cartridge housing and an anvil. The cartridge housing and anvil are relatively movable between a first spaced apart position and a second position in close approximation with one another, and the cartridge housing includes a knife structure adapted for cutting tissue by moving between the cartridge housing and the anvil. The instrument also includes a firing mechanism associated with the end effector and the cartridge housing for selective actuation of the knife structure and surgical fasteners for movement in the same direction.