Larger gauge needles have a ______ bore.

• A. Wider
• B. Smaller
• C. Standard
• D. Narrower

Answer: (B)

Larger gauge needles have a smaller bore. In the context of needle gauges, the gauge number is inversely related to the diameter of the needle; as the gauge number increases, the actual diameter of the needle decreases. This means that a larger gauge number indicates a thinner needle with a finer bore. For instance, a 16-gauge needle will have a much wider bore than a 21-gauge needle, which is thinner with a smaller bore. Understanding this relationship is crucial, especially in medical and radiographic applications where precise needle selection is necessary for different procedures, such as drawing blood or injecting contrast agents.