A surgical stapling apparatus, comprising: a handle assembly including a movable handle and a stationary handle housing, said movable handle being movable through actuation strokes relative to said stationary handle housing; an actuation shaft supported at least in part within said handle housing and mounted to generate actuation motions in response to manipulation of said movable handle; and an elongated body assembly comprising: a proximal body segment protruding from said handle assembly and interfacing with said actuation shaft; a distal body segment having a distal end configured to be releasably and operably attached to a disposable loading unit (16, 16') that has an anvil and a cartridge assembly that houses a plurality of surgical staples therein; and an intermediate articulation joint coupling said distal body segment to said proximal body segment such that said proximal body segment and said distal body segment define a longitudinal axis and wherein said intermediate articulation joint enables said distal body segment to be selectively pivoted about an intermediate articulation axis that is substantially transverse to said longitudinal axis, and wherein said elongated body assembly is configured to transfer said actuation motions from said actuation shaft to the disposable loading unit (16, 16'). a handle assembly including a movable handle and a stationary handle housing, said movable handle being movable through actuation strokes relative to said stationary handle housing; an actuation shaft supported at least in part within said handle housing and mounted to generate actuation motions in response to manipulation of said movable handle; and an elongated body assembly comprising: a proximal body segment protruding from said handle assembly and interfacing with said actuation shaft; a distal body segment having a distal end configured to be releasably and operably attached to a disposable loading unit (16, 16') that has an anvil and a cartridge assembly that houses a plurality of surgical staples therein; and an intermediate articulation joint coupling said distal body segment to said proximal body segment such that said proximal body segment and said distal body segment define a longitudinal axis and wherein said intermediate articulation joint enables said distal body segment to be selectively pivoted about an intermediate articulation axis that is substantially transverse to said longitudinal axis, and wherein said elongated body assembly is configured to transfer said actuation motions from said actuation shaft to the disposable loading unit (16, 16'). a proximal body segment protruding from said handle assembly and interfacing with said actuation shaft; a distal body segment having a distal end configured to be releasably and operably attached to a disposable loading unit (16, 16') that has an anvil and a cartridge assembly that houses a plurality of surgical staples therein; and an intermediate articulation joint coupling said distal body segment to said proximal body segment such that said proximal body segment and said distal body segment define a longitudinal axis and wherein said intermediate articulation joint enables said distal body segment to be selectively pivoted about an intermediate articulation axis that is substantially transverse to said longitudinal axis, and wherein said elongated body assembly is configured to transfer said actuation motions from said actuation shaft to the disposable loading unit (16, 16').