Medical devices capable of filling liquid into a syringe barrel while evacuating any air from the syringe are described. An exemplary medical device includes a syringe barrel having a tapered sidewall portion for permitting air to vent from the chamber and preventing liquid from exiting the chamber, a plunger rod, and stopper. Another exemplary medical device includes a syringe barrel having a plurality of air venting grooves associated with the sidewall of the barrel, a plunger rod and stopper. Also described is a medical device including a syringe barrel, plunger rod and stopper having a porous plug. Described is a medical device including a syringe barrel having a plurality of air venting grooves associated with the sidewall of the barrel and a porous membrane disposed over the air venting grooves, a plunger rod and stopper. Methods for filling a syringe barrel with a liquid are also provided.