Which statement best differentiates dendrites from axons?

• A. Dendrites receive signals; axons transmit signals away from the cell body.
• B. Dendrites are long conduits for action potentials; axons are short receptive structures.
• C. Dendrites release neurotransmitters; axons store neurotransmitters.
• D. Dendrites generate action potentials; axons integrate synaptic input.

Answer: (A)

The main idea here is input versus output. Dendrites are the receiving branches of a neuron; they collect signals from other neurons through synapses and convey graded, small electrical changes toward the cell body. The axon, starting at the axon hillock, is the output component that converts the summed input into an action potential and then carries that signal away to synaptic terminals for communication with other cells.

That’s why that choice fits best: dendrites receive signals; axons transmit signals away from the cell body. The other statements mix up where signals are generated or transmitted—action potentials aren’t typically produced or conducted along dendrites, neurotransmitter release mainly occurs from the axon terminals, and dendrites don’t generate action potentials in the usual sense.