Final answer:
The semicircular canals do not provide information about the pitch of sound; this is false. They are involved in balance and detecting the head's rotational movements. The pitch of sound is detected by the auditory system's basilar membrane.
Step-by-step explanation:
The statement that semicircular canals provide the brain with information about the pitch of sound is false. The semicircular canals are part of the vestibular system and are responsible for assessing head movement and balance, specifically rotational movement. When the head turns or the body moves, the fluid inside the semicircular canals moves, bending the stereocilia on hair cells, which in turn send signals to the brain about balance and motion.
To answer the multiple-choice questions referenced, the structures found both in the auditory system and the vestibular system would be b. hair cells. When you are in a car that suddenly decelerates, several events occur within the ear: a. Fluid in the semicircular canals moves, b. Stereocilia are bent, and c. Deceleration signals are sent to the brain. The detection of sound pitch, however, is the function of the a. basilar membrane, which vibrates at different positions based on the frequency of the incoming sound and is part of the auditory system, not the semicircular canals.