A surgical stapling apparatus for enhancing one or more properties of body tissue that is or is to be repaired or joined, the surgical stapling apparatus comprising: a staple anvil positioned on a distal end of the stapling apparatus, the staple anvil including: a working surface; a longitudinal cavity formed in the working surface; a plurality of staple forming recesses formed in the working surface; and a wound closure material retained in at least a length of the staple anvil for dispensing wound closure material into or onto the body tissue, and characterised by either: the anvil includes a row of apertures formed in the working surface extending substantially along a length thereof, wherein a conduit extends along the row of apertures, and wherein the conduit includes a plurality of openings formed therein so that wound closure material can be dispensed from the apertures in the working surface when wound closure material is urged through the conduit; or rows of apertures are formed in side walls which define the cavity and conduits are affixed to an inner surface of the side walls in such a manner so as to place openings in the conduits in registration with apertures formed in each of the side walls so that wound closure material can be dispensed from the apertures in the side walls when wound closure material is urged through the conduits; or a row of apertures is formed in a top wall which defines the cavity and a conduit is affixed to an inner upper surface of the top wall in such a manner so as to place openings in the conduit in registration with the apertures formed in the top wall so that wound closure material "W" can be dispensed from the apertures in the top wall when wound closure material "W" is urged through the conduits; or a conduit with apertures in its lower surface adapted to be placed in the cavity and secured to an outer lower surface of a top wall of the cavity. a staple anvil positioned on a distal end of the stapling apparatus, the staple anvil including: a working surface; a longitudinal cavity formed in the working surface; a plurality of staple forming recesses formed in the working surface; and a wound closure material retained in at least a length of the staple anvil for dispensing wound closure material into or onto the body tissue, and characterised by a working surface; a longitudinal cavity formed in the working surface; a plurality of staple forming recesses formed in the working surface; and a wound closure material retained in at least a length of the staple anvil for dispensing wound closure material into or onto the body tissue, and characterised by either: the anvil includes a row of apertures formed in the working surface extending substantially along a length thereof, wherein a conduit extends along the row of apertures, and wherein the conduit includes a plurality of openings formed therein so that wound closure material can be dispensed from the apertures in the working surface when wound closure material is urged through the conduit; or rows of apertures are formed in side walls which define the cavity and conduits are affixed to an inner surface of the side walls in such a manner so as to place openings in the conduits in registration with apertures formed in each of the side walls so that wound closure material can be dispensed from the apertures in the side walls when wound closure material is urged through the conduits; or a row of apertures is formed in a top wall which defines the cavity and a conduit is affixed to an inner upper surface of the top wall in such a manner so as to place openings in the conduit in registration with the apertures formed in the top wall so that wound closure material "W" can be dispensed from the apertures in the top wall when wound closure material "W" is urged through the conduits; or a conduit with apertures in its lower surface adapted to be placed in the cavity and secured to an outer lower surface of a top wall of the cavity. the anvil includes a row of apertures formed in the working surface extending substantially along a length thereof, wherein a conduit extends along the row of apertures, and wherein the conduit includes a plurality of openings formed therein so that wound closure material can be dispensed from the apertures in the working surface when wound closure material is urged through the conduit; or rows of apertures are formed in side walls which define the cavity and conduits are affixed to an inner surface of the side walls in such a manner so as to place openings in the conduits in registration with apertures formed in each of the side walls so that wound closure material can be dispensed from the apertures in the side walls when wound closure material is urged through the conduits; or a row of apertures is formed in a top wall which defines the cavity and a conduit is affixed to an inner upper surface of the top wall in such a manner so as to place openings in the conduit in registration with the apertures formed in the top wall so that wound closure material "W" can be dispensed from the apertures in the top wall when wound closure material "W" is urged through the conduits; or a conduit with apertures in its lower surface adapted to be placed in the cavity and secured to an outer lower surface of a top wall of the cavity.