Technical note: Stafne static mandibular bone defect-further expression on the buccal aspect of the ramus.

The anatomic distribution of the Stafne static mandibular bone defect (SSBD) is extended with a description of a cavitation defect on the buccal ramus of the mandible. The anatomical placement of SSBD thus correlates precisely with the submandibular and parotid salivary glands, and gives further evidence that an increase in major salivary gland size is associated with the defect. The global latitudinal variation in the population prevalence of SSBD ranges from 10% in the tropics to virtually 0% in most of the arctic. Globally the defect directly correlates with parasite load and diversity, and may be a marker for of a history of an environment with high levels of enteric macroparasite infestation. Copyright 2000 Wiley-Liss, Inc.