(1) The air pressure on either side of the eardrum is normally kept equal for proper functioning of the middle ear structures, namely the malleus , incus and stapes bones.(2) Mammals have three, the stapes, the malleus , and incus, the last two being the old reptilian jaw joint still conserved deep within our ear.(3) The malleus , or hammer, is the largest of the three ossicles.(4) Urbantschitsch has provided detailed measurements of the malleus , incus and the stapes.(5) In mammals they are called the malleus , incus and stapes.
