Tapeworm scolex. Light micrograph of the scolex at the anterior end of a tapeworm. This parasite infects its hosts intestines. The scolex has a circul

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Tapeworm scolex. Light micrograph of the scolex at the anterior end of a tapeworm. This parasite infects its hosts intestines. The scolex has a circular two rows of hooks (green) which, hook themselves to the wall of the intestine, and also four circular suckers lower down (red), to stop the tapeworm being dislodged. Below the scolex, young proglottids bud off and grow and produce eggs and sperm which get fertilised, ultimately exiting the host in the faeces. Magnification: x5 when printed at 10 centimetres wide.

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Size: 5125px × 3417px
Photo credit: © DR KEITH WHEELER/SCIENCE PHOTO LIBRARY / Alamy / Afripics
License: Licensed
Model Released: No

Keywords: animal, background, biological, biology, close-, cut, cut-, cut-outs, cutout, cutouts, detail, fauna, flatworm, hook, invertebrate, light, lm, micrograph, microscope, nature, outs, parasite, parasitic, parasitology, scolex, tapeworm, white, wildlife, worm, zoological, zoology