How it works
These are the parts of a syringe on a disposable syringe with a needle fitted. Start with the 5 main parts, then the tip and the needle.
Read the full guide
The syringe
The plunger slides in the barrel, a tube of plastic or glass that is nearly always clear. The rubber stopper on the plunger's end seals against the barrel. The graduations printed on the barrel show how much it holds.
The needle
The needle's plastic hub screws onto the Luer lock tip. The thin steel shaft is hollow, and its end is cut at a slant, the bevel, to make the point.
- Not every syringe has a stopper: in a two-part syringe the plastic plunger fits the barrel exactly and seals on its own.
Questions and answers
What are the three main parts of a syringe?
The barrel, the clear tube that holds the liquid; the plunger, which pushes or pulls it; and the tip, where the needle is attached.
What is the bevel of a needle?
The slanted cut at the end of the needle's shaft. It makes the sharp point that pierces the skin.
What is a Luer lock?
A threaded tip on the syringe that a needle or tube screws onto, so it stays securely attached. The needle's hub carries the matching fitting.