The invention relates to a pricking device (1) for taking a blood sample, comprising a movable holding device (10) for pricking means (5), a linear guide element (11) for guiding the movable holding device, means (12) for driving the movable holding device and a release device (31) for releasing the pricking movement (6) of the pricking means. When the release device has been manually actuated, the movable holding device can be moved in a translatory manner by the drive means. Said drive means comprise a curved path (20) in which the movable holding means is directly engaged, enabling the pricking device to have a particularly simple structure.