Which part of the neuron is responsible for carrying nerve impulses away from the cell body?

The axon is the part of the neuron that is primarily responsible for carrying nerve impulses away from the cell body. It acts as a long, slender projection that transmits electrical signals known as action potentials over distances to communicate with other neurons, muscles, or glands. The axon starts at the axon hillock, where the decision to propagate a nerve impulse is made, and extends to the axon terminals, where neurotransmitters are released into the synapse to communicate with other cells.

In contrast, dendrites are responsible for receiving incoming signals and transmitting them towards the cell body rather than away from it. Sensory neurons refer more to the type of neuron that transmits sensory information to the central nervous system, but they still utilize axons to carry impulses. The synapse is the junction between two neurons where the transmission of signals occurs, but it does not carry nerve impulses itself; it is a site of communication facilitated by neurotransmitters.