A measuring endoscope apparatus is disclosed having a light source unit
that emits low coherence light, a probe that illuminates the observation
object with the low coherence light and that collects light reflected by
the observation object, and a single optical fiber that optically
connects the light source unit and the probe. The light source unit
includes a first low coherence light splitting part and an optical path
length adjustment part. The probe includes a second low coherence light
splitting part, a low coherence light multiplexing part, a lens that
forms images using light returned from the observation object and an
image detector that captures interference patterns and/or images using
light reflected by the observation object. By using the low coherence
light, surface conditions, such as roughness, can be accurately measured.