Syringe

From ArticleWorld

A syringe is a medical device of varying styles and sizes that consists of a plunger fitted snugly into a barrel-shaped tube so that suction can be established. Using a syringe, one can suction or transfer gases or liquids from areas of the body that are inaccessible by other means. A syringe may be attached to a needle or be used alone.

Types

Syringes can hold less than a milliliter or can be very large, over 60 milliliters in volume. Syringes can be made of plastic or glass; however, in the age of the possibility of transmission of blood-borne diseases like HIV, the glass syringes have largely been replaced with disposable plastic ones. Those that hold a needle often have a special tip on it, called a Luer Lock that essentially screws the needle onto the syringe for a tight connection.

Another type of syringe involves the use of a plunger and barrel but has a cone-shaped nozzle on the end of it. This kind of syringe is best used in the practice of irrigation, such as with wound cleansing or surgical irrigation.

A bulb syringe is one that is generally rubberized, made of a single piece and uses suction to both remove and add fluids to parts of the body. A small bulb syringe can be used to remove mucus from the nose and mouth of a newborn infant. An identical syringe can be used to irrigate an ear canal that is blocked with wax to both soften the wax and dislodge it from the canal. Larger syringes of this type can be used for vaginal douching or for rectal enemas.

Uses

The practice of using a syringe and a needle to administer a substance is called an injection. Fluids can be injected into an individual’s soft tissue or into a vein. Air or any other gas injected into a vein can be dangerous if a large amount is introduced. The result of a large gas injection into a vein can be an air embolism, where a bolus of gas blocks the flow of blood in the lungs—a serious condition.

Syringes can be used in the laboratory, transferring fluids across rubber tops of blood tubes, into a container or into a piece of scientific apparatus for the purposes of laboratory evaluation. Nonmedical uses include using syringes to inject fillings into bakery products or injecting juices into meats to enhance flavor.