A surgical instrument, comprising: a firing member, comprising: a longitudinal drive portion; and a cam extending laterally from said longitudinal drive portion; a cartridge jaw, comprising: a longitudinal cartridge slot configured to receive said longitudinal drive portion of said firing member; an inner longitudinal row of staple cavities adjacent said longitudinal cartridge slot; a lateral longitudinal row of staple cavities, wherein said inner longitudinal row of staple cavities is positioned intermediate said longitudinal cartridge slot and said lateral longitudinal row of staple cavities; and staples removably stored in said inner and lateral longitudinal rows of staple cavities, wherein said firing member is movable through said cartridge jaw to eject said staples from said inner and lateral longitudinal rows of staple cavities; and an anvil jaw, comprising: an inner longitudinal row of forming pockets registerable with said inner longitudinal row of staple cavities; a lateral longitudinal row of forming pockets registerable with said lateral longitudinal row of staple cavities; and a longitudinal anvil slot, comprising: a center portion configured to receive said longitudinal drive portion of said firing member; and a lateral opening extending laterally from said center portion configured to receive said cam, wherein said lateral opening does not extend laterally beyond said inner longitudinal row of forming pockets, characterized in that the lateral opening comprises a curved or rounded profile which matches curved ends of the cam. a firing member, comprising: a longitudinal drive portion; and a cam extending laterally from said longitudinal drive portion; a longitudinal drive portion; and a cam extending laterally from said longitudinal drive portion; a cartridge jaw, comprising: a longitudinal cartridge slot configured to receive said longitudinal drive portion of said firing member; an inner longitudinal row of staple cavities adjacent said longitudinal cartridge slot; a lateral longitudinal row of staple cavities, wherein said inner longitudinal row of staple cavities is positioned intermediate said longitudinal cartridge slot and said lateral longitudinal row of staple cavities; and staples removably stored in said inner and lateral longitudinal rows of staple cavities, wherein said firing member is movable through said cartridge jaw to eject said staples from said inner and lateral longitudinal rows of staple cavities; and a longitudinal cartridge slot configured to receive said longitudinal drive portion of said firing member; an inner longitudinal row of staple cavities adjacent said longitudinal cartridge slot; a lateral longitudinal row of staple cavities, wherein said inner longitudinal row of staple cavities is positioned intermediate said longitudinal cartridge slot and said lateral longitudinal row of staple cavities; and staples removably stored in said inner and lateral longitudinal rows of staple cavities, wherein said firing member is movable through said cartridge jaw to eject said staples from said inner and lateral longitudinal rows of staple cavities; and an anvil jaw, comprising: an inner longitudinal row of forming pockets registerable with said inner longitudinal row of staple cavities; a lateral longitudinal row of forming pockets registerable with said lateral longitudinal row of staple cavities; and a longitudinal anvil slot, comprising: a center portion configured to receive said longitudinal drive portion of said firing member; and a lateral opening extending laterally from said center portion configured to receive said cam, wherein said lateral opening does not extend laterally beyond said inner longitudinal row of forming pockets, characterized in that the lateral opening comprises a curved or rounded profile which matches curved ends of the cam. an inner longitudinal row of forming pockets registerable with said inner longitudinal row of staple cavities; a lateral longitudinal row of forming pockets registerable with said lateral longitudinal row of staple cavities; and a longitudinal anvil slot, comprising: a center portion configured to receive said longitudinal drive portion of said firing member; and a lateral opening extending laterally from said center portion configured to receive said cam, wherein said lateral opening does not extend laterally beyond said inner longitudinal row of forming pockets, a center portion configured to receive said longitudinal drive portion of said firing member; and a lateral opening extending laterally from said center portion configured to receive said cam, wherein said lateral opening does not extend laterally beyond said inner longitudinal row of forming pockets, characterized in that the lateral opening comprises a curved or rounded profile which matches curved ends of the cam.