Ruiskua

Ruiskua is the Finnish noun in the partitive form that refers to a syringe, a device used to inject fluids into or withdraw fluids from the body, or for transferring liquids in laboratory settings. In ordinary Finnish, ruisku can denote both medical syringes and instrument syringes used in research or industry. A typical syringe consists of a barrel, a plunger, and often a needle attached via a connector such as a Luer tip. The barrel is calibrated in milliliters or cubic centimeters to indicate dose. Modern syringes are commonly disposable and made of plastic; reusable glass syringes with metal plungers are used in some settings after sterilization.

In medical practice, syringes range in capacity from about 0.5 mL for small-dose applications to 50 mL for aspiration or irrigation. Insulin syringes are small-volume devices with fixed needles. Needle gauges commonly range from 18 to 31, with smaller gauges indicating thicker needles. Luer-lock and slip-tip are common coupling standards that determine how securely the needle attaches to the barrel. Uses include administration of medicines, vaccination, withdrawal of blood samples, and various laboratory procedures such as handling reagents. Safety considerations emphasize single-use disposal or proper sterilization of reusable devices, and correct needle disposal to prevent injury.

Historically, syringes date to early modern science, with significant developments in the 19th and 20th centuries that led to the standardized disposable plastic syringes used today.