Which part of a neuron receives impulses from another neuron?

• A. Axon
• B. Soma
• C. Nucleus
• D. Dendrite

Answer: (D)

Dendrites are the receiving parts of a neuron. They have receptor sites that pick up signals when neurotransmitters are released from a neighboring neuron at synapses. This chemical signal is converted into an electrical change in the dendrite, creating a postsynaptic potential. If enough input accumulates at the soma and reaches the axon hillock, an action potential can be fired along the axon to communicate with the next neuron. The soma mainly integrates inputs but isn’t the initial site of reception for individual synaptic signals. The nucleus sits in the soma as the cell’s genetic material, and the axon carries impulses away from the neuron, not toward it. So the part that receives impulses from another neuron is the dendrite.