Which neural structure carries impulses away from the neuron cell body toward other neurons or muscles?

Which neural structure carries impulses away from the neuron cell body toward other neurons or muscles?

• A. Dendrite
• B. Soma
• C. Axon
• D. Nucleus

Answer: (C)

The main idea here is how a neuron sends signals. After inputs are gathered mainly by dendrites and integrated in the cell body, the electrical impulse is carried away from the cell body along the axon. The axon is the long projection that conducts action potentials down its length toward the end terminals, where communication occurs with other neurons or with muscles at synapses. Myelin around the axon speeds this transmission, and at the terminal endings the signal is transmitted across the synapse to the next cell. In contrast, dendrites are the receiving branches, the soma (cell body) contains the nucleus and metabolic machinery, and the nucleus sits inside the cell body rather than extending to transmit signals.

The main idea here is how a neuron sends signals. After inputs are gathered mainly by dendrites and integrated in the cell body, the electrical impulse is carried away from the cell body along the axon. The axon is the long projection that conducts action potentials down its length toward the end terminals, where communication occurs with other neurons or with muscles at synapses. Myelin around the axon speeds this transmission, and at the terminal endings the signal is transmitted across the synapse to the next cell. In contrast, dendrites are the receiving branches, the soma (cell body) contains the nucleus and metabolic machinery, and the nucleus sits inside the cell body rather than extending to transmit signals.