Final answer:
The signals are transmitted across the soma and down the axon, which is crucial for signal transmission in neurons. Action potentials travel from the axon hillock down the axon to the axon terminals, where neurotransmitters are released to communicate with other neurons or cells.
Step-by-step explanation:
The signals are transmitted electronically across the soma and down the major extensions from the soma known as the axon. In the context of neuron function, the axon plays a critical role in signal transmission. When a neuron is activated, electrical signals called action potentials are generated and propagate along the axon from the soma to the axonal terminals. The numerous axonal terminals end in structures known as synaptic buttons or synaptic terminals, which are in close proximity to the dendrites of adjacent neurons or the cells of target tissues like muscle.
A typical neuron receives input from other neurons through its dendrites. These signals are then transmitted across the soma and integrated at a part of the neuron called the
axon hillock
. If the cumulative input is strong enough to reach a threshold, the axon hillock generates an action potential that travels down the axon. When this electrical signal reaches the axon terminals, it triggers the release of neurotransmitters, the chemical messengers that cross synapses to transmit signals to neighboring neurons' dendrites, or to other cells, thereby continuing the communication pathway throughout the nervous system.