Abstract: In a piston whose rod 2 is connected in a hinged manner to the upper part of the piston through the piston axis and whose upper part, inside an annular support 5 in the central region of the base of the piston, is to be cooled by the cooling oil injected from the crankshaft chamber, the problem which arises is to introduce the cooling oil into this region without touching the annular support 5. In order to resolve this problem, a deflecting surface for the cooling oil in the shape of a channel section 11 is arranged at the upper end of the rod 2. This channel section 11 guides the injected cooling oil through a radial orifice 10 in the wall of the annular support 5 inside the central cooling chamber 9 below the base 4 of the piston. To improve the cooling effect of the cooling oil in the inner central chamber 9, the latter may be isolated from the crankshaft chamber by a cover 12.