(nēd′ĕl )

A pointed instrument for stitching, ligaturing, puncturing, or cannulating. Needles may be straight, half-curved, full-curved, semicircular, double-curved, double-ended, sharp or blunt-tipped, solid, or hollow. They are classified as cutting edge or round point. Cutting-edge needles are used in skin and dense tissue; round-point needles are used for more delicate operations, esp. on soft tissues. When a needle is used for stitching, the suture material may be attached through an eye, french eye, or, more commonly, an easily detachable swaged needle.