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The liver fluke, Fasciola hepatica relies on a well-developed muscular system, not only for attachment, but for many aspects of its biology. Despite this, little is known about the system beyond the gross organization of the main somatic muscle layers. In the present study, a range of techniques have been applied to F. hepatica in order to understand more about various aspects of muscle organization, biochemistry (in terms of muscle proteins) and identity of isolated muscle fibres. Scanning electron microscopy has provided a direct visualization in situ of the somatic muscle layers and the organization of the muscle fibres within the ventral sucker. The muscle bundles contributing to the main somatic muscle layers are made up of up to 10 individual muscle fibres. Phalloidin staining for actin, in conjunction with confocal microscopy, confirmed the presence of 2 main somatic muscle layers (outer circular, inner …