If you type the word “syringe” into a search engine, you will be met with a simple definition. In essence, the term is defined as a medical instrument employed for either injecting fluids into or withdrawing them from an entity. A simple definition of syringes will also note that the terms syringe and needles are often used interchangeably. For example, you say you are “getting a needle (or a shot).” You do not say “you are getting a syringe.”
Technically, however, a needle is the end point of a syringe. It is not the entire instrument. A syringe is the sum of its parts which consist of:
* A barrel or tube for containing the fluid
*A plunger for releasing or drawing in the fluid
*A needle for entering into the skin or container
*A cap for protecting the needle and individual from being harmed
Types of Syringes
Yet, when it comes to defining syringes according to types, there are many different ways to approach the topic. There are many different ways of categorizing them. One source may define them according to their employment. As a result, they are described as either subcutaneous or intramuscular.
Another way of looking at syringes is through their size. For some, this is defining them according to their length and their gauge. For example, they may describe a syringe as being short and fine. On the opposite scale are those needles that are thick and long.
Another source list syringes as falling into the following categories:
*Asepto syringe – this is used for intraoperative irrigation and fits precisely into large lumen tubing
*Bulb syringe – A syringe consisting of a basic tube with a bulb at one end to create a vacuum and allow for drainage through suction. It is also employed for intraoperative irrigation.
* Hypodermic syringe – used to introduce or withdraw fluids from the body by entering into subcutaneous tissue.
* Luer-Lok syringe: a syringe employed in injections that uses a luer lock to hold the needle securely in place
Syringe Size
Another method of categorizing syringes is through their volume. Syringes come in sizes capable of holding a specific amount of fluid. The most common is 1 CC or 1 Ml. The second most common is 3 cc or 3 ml. They can, however, range in size from 0.25 cc (or ml) to 450 cc. This is. Perhaps, the more popular way of categorizing syringes.
When it comes to categorizing syringes as types, you are faced with several potential systems. While the length of the needle and the gauge may be the most correct, it is not the most common means of typology. Most people look at syringes as needles. They identify them not through size (length and gauge) but through their how much medication they contain – in other words, their volume.
