Disclosed is a photoacoustic measurement apparatus that irradiates a light beam onto a subject, from a same side as that of an acoustic wave detector, and that measures photoacoustic waves. The photoacoustic measurement apparatus has: an acoustic wave detector; a diffraction grating member provided in front of a detection surface of the detector; a light source that generates a light beam; and an optical system that guides the light beam from the light source towards the diffraction grating member. The diffraction grating member is configured such that the light beam led to the diffraction grating member is outputted by the diffraction grating member towards a subject surface that opposes the detection surface of the detector. As a result, light beams can strike a biological body in a near-perpendicular angle. This affords greater illumination efficiency, and allows light of substantial light energy to be irradiated deep inside biological structures.