Question

The multiple thin, branched structures on a neuron whose main function is to receive incoming signals are the

A) cell bodies.
B) axons.
C) dendrites.
D) somata.
E) none of the above

Answer 1

The structures that receive incoming signals on a neuron are the dendrites. Dendrites are specialized for receiving nerve impulses, whereas the axon transmits the electrical signal away from the neuron's cell body.

Step-by-step explanation:

The multiple thin, branched structures on a neuron whose main function is to receive incoming signals are the dendrites. Dendrites are thin, tree-like structures extending from the cell body, specialized in receiving nerve impulses from other cells. Each dendrite can branch out, forming an intricate tree with more than 1,000 branches, effectively allowing the reception of signals from multiple other neurons at specialized junctions known as synapses.

In contrast, the axon is another important structure of a neuron which transmits the electrical signal to a target cell. It carries the signal from the soma (cell body) to other neurons, muscles, or glands, completing the communication circuit within the nervous system. Dendrites, along with axons, are critical for the complex communication that occurs between the vast network of neurons in the human body.