An instrument for taking a tissue sample includes a tissue receiving element with a distal end and a proximal end and at least partly has a spiral or helix that has an outer surface and a central longitudinal axis (X-X′). The spiral or helix has at least has one zone where the distance (dd) from the outer surface to the central longitudinal axis (X-X′) is smaller than at a more proximally located part of the spiral or helix.