a surgical apparatus for removing tissue , which includes a housing , an elongated body which extends from the housing and forms an opening at a distal end , the elongated body further forming a tissue receiving cavity in communication with the opening , a cutting member operatively associated with the housing and movable transverse to the elongated body in proximity to the opening , and a tissue retaining member positioned in proximity to the opening and the cutting member , the retaining member being selectively movable from a retracted position to a deployed position , wherein when positioned in the deployed position , the tissue retaining member obstructs at least a portion of the opening at the distal end of the elongated body . a method is also provided for surgically removing tissue including the steps of positioning a tissue removing instrument including an elongated housing having a tissue receiving cavity at a distal end , a first tissue cutting surface longitudinally movable relative to the elongated housing distal end , an obturator having a sharpened distal end portion such that the sharpened end portion is positioned adjacent the tissue to be removed and a second tissue cutting surface transversely movable relative to the elongated housing , removing the obturator from the elongated housing , coring the tissue to be removed , severing the cored tissue from the surrounding tissue with the second cutting surface , and removing the severed tissue from the patient .