Abstract: An internal combustion engine includes a cylinder wall through which an exhaust port with an exhaust port inner surface is routed from a combustion chamber to an exhaust port opening in the cylinder wall. A pipe section is arranged in a section of the exhaust port following the exhaust port opening in the direction of the combustion chamber with a pipe section outer surface, which reduces the heat transfer from the exhaust gas from the exhaust port into the cylinder wall. The pipe section outer surface is spaced from the exhaust port inner surface through an air gap by sections along an entire outer circumference of the pipe section.