What are the extensions of a neuron called that carry impulses away from the nerve cell body?

The extensions of a neuron that carry impulses away from the nerve cell body are called axons. Axons are specialized long, slender projections that transmit electrical impulses known as action potentials from the neuron’s cell body to other neurons, muscles, or glands. They play a critical role in communication within the nervous system by conveying information to different parts of the body.

In contrast, dendrites are the branching extensions of neurons that receive signals or impulses from other neurons and transmit that information toward the cell body. Synapses are the junctions between neurons where communication occurs, facilitating the transfer of signals rather than carrying impulses themselves. Neurotransmitters are chemical messengers that transmit signals across synapses from one neuron to another, but they do not extend from the neuron as axons do. Thus, axons are specifically responsible for carrying impulses away from the nerve cell body, making them essential for the functioning of the nervous system.