What part of the neuron transmits signals away from the cell body?

The axon is the part of the neuron responsible for transmitting signals away from the cell body. The primary function of the axon is to carry electrical impulses, known as action potentials, which facilitate communication between neurons or from neurons to other types of cells, such as muscle cells.

An axon can be several millimeters to even meters in length, depending on the type of neuron, allowing it to reach far distances within the nervous system. The signal conduction occurs along the axon due to its unique structure, which includes myelin sheaths in some neurons that increase the speed of the signal transmission through a process called saltatory conduction.

In contrast, dendrites are the branched extensions of the neuron that receive signals and carry them toward the cell body. The soma, or cell body, contains the nucleus and organelles of the neuron but does not transmit signals itself. A synapse is the junction between two neurons, where the transmission of signals takes place, but it does not directly transmit signals away from the cell body. Understanding the distinct functions of these components helps clarify the role of the axon in the overall function of the nervous system.