The cell wall complex was extracted from Staphylococcus aureus and characterized in suspension by means of small-angle neutron scattering and magnetically induced birefringence. The neutron scattering measurements show that the complex has a thickness of -420 A, a mass per unit area of 93 + 11 daltons/A2and is -75% water by volume. The neutron scattering density is higher near the surface than in the interior in accordance with a trilamellar structure. The magnetically induced birefringence measurements demonstrate that a high degree of magnetic orientation is possible due to the anisotropic nature of the wall complex structure. Staphylococcus aureus Peptidoglycan Cell wall Magnetic orientationNeutron scattering, small angle