Which statement correctly describes axons and dendrites?

Which statement correctly describes axons and dendrites?

• A. Axons carry signals toward the cell body; Dendrites away from the cell body
• B. Axons carry signals away from the cell body; Dendrites toward the cell body
• C. Both axons and dendrites carry signals toward the cell body
• D. Dendrites carry signals away from the cell body; Axons toward the cell body

Answer: (B)

Dendrites receive incoming signals from other neurons and relay them to the cell body, while the axon conducts the signal away from the cell body to target cells. This means the correct description is that dendrites carry information toward the soma, and axons carry information away from the soma. The axon originates at the axon hillock and propagates action potentials down to synaptic terminals, whereas dendrites integrate graded potentials from multiple inputs at the cell body. Descriptions that state signals go toward the cell body from the axon or that both processes carry signals in the same direction do not align with how neuronal signaling is organized.

Dendrites receive incoming signals from other neurons and relay them to the cell body, while the axon conducts the signal away from the cell body to target cells. This means the correct description is that dendrites carry information toward the soma, and axons carry information away from the soma. The axon originates at the axon hillock and propagates action potentials down to synaptic terminals, whereas dendrites integrate graded potentials from multiple inputs at the cell body. Descriptions that state signals go toward the cell body from the axon or that both processes carry signals in the same direction do not align with how neuronal signaling is organized.