Dendrites are branchlike parts of a neuron that are specialized to receive information.

• A. Branchlike parts of a neuron that are specialized to receive information.
• B. The endpoint of a neuron where neurotransmitters are stored.
• C. The largest part of a neuron that contains the nucleus.
• D. The tiny gap between neurons.

Answer: (A)

Dendrites are the branchlike extensions on a neuron that receive information from other neurons. They are studded with receptors for neurotransmitters released at synapses, so when a signal arrives, these receptors respond by opening ion channels and creating small electrical changes called graded potentials. These potentials can summate across many dendrites and over time to influence whether the neuron will fire an action potential at the axon hillock. This receiving role is exactly what the description captures.

For context, the endpoint of a neuron where neurotransmitters are stored is the axon terminal (synaptic terminal). The largest part of a neuron that contains the nucleus is the soma (cell body). The tiny gap between neurons is the synaptic cleft.