An engine cylinder with a piston and at least one, preferably two or four, cam-operated valves leading to the combustion chamber. A valve seat of the valve is formed in the cylinder wall immediately laterally adjacent to the cylinder bore or to the cylinder chamber. The valve axis and the cylinder axis enclose an acute angle A of 5°≦A≦25°, preferably 10°≦A≦20°. The axis of the inlet channel or the outlet channel leading to the valve seat in a plane defined by the valve axis and the cylinder axis is inclined at an angle B of 25°≦B≦65°, preferably 40°≦B≦50° to the valve axis.