Washington Esthetician State Board Practice Exam

Which part of the neuron is involved in sending signals away from the cell body?

1. Dendrites

2. Axon

3. Synapse

4. Cell body

The correct answer is: Axon

The axon is the part of the neuron responsible for transmitting electrical impulses away from the cell body. It acts as a long, slender projection that can extend over considerable distances to communicate with other neurons, muscles, or glands. The primary function of the axon is to carry action potentials, which are the nerve impulses that convey information throughout the nervous system. Dendrites, in contrast, are the branching structures that receive incoming signals from other neurons and send them toward the cell body. The synapse is the junction where the axon terminal of one neuron connects with another neuron or target cell, facilitating the transmission of signals. The cell body, or soma, contains the nucleus and other organelles, serving as the metabolic center of the neuron, but it does not send signals away. Thus, the axon's role in signal propagation away from the cell body is essential for effective communication within the nervous system.