An insertion head for medical or pharmaceutical applications includes a base having a lower side positionable on organic tissue an insertion means movably mounted by the base and insertable into the tissue where the insertion means is movable relative to the base from a protective position in which a free end of the insertion means is short of the lower side of the base, into an insertion position in which the free end protrudes beyond the lower side and a receptacle that is open towards the lower side of the base and that can be detached from the base, and which accommodates at least the free end of the insertion means in its protective position.