Final answer:
The short fibers extending from a neuron's cell body that receive information are called dendrites. While a neuron may have thousands of dendrites for receiving signals, it has only one axon for sending signals.
Step-by-step explanation:
The multiple short fibers that extend from the neuron's cell body and receive information from other neurons or from sensory receptor cells are called dendrites. Dendrites are usually highly branched, which provides numerous locations for other neurons to communicate with the cell body. In contrast, the axon is a single, long fiber that extends from the neuron body and propagates nerve impulses away from the neuron cell body toward other cells. Synapses are the specialized areas of contact where information is exchanged between neurons, often occurring between an axon of one neuron and the dendrites of another. While each neuron has only one axon, it may have thousands of dendrites, allowing it to connect with numerous other neurons.