Syringe assemblies are described with at least two co-axially positioned cylinders that move relative to one another by action of a spring. Aspects of the syringe assemblies include a protective unit in which a first cylinder of a first length is attached to a second cylinder of shorter second length. In different embodiments, a protective unit is formed of a single or singularly fabricated cylinder. The different protective units may be used with a syringe in which action of a plunger to push a plunger tip into contact with a distal wall of the syringe cylinder to discharge fluid located inside the syringe but does not immediately release the protective unit relative to the syringe cylinder to shield a needle.
