Which cellular process carries a nerve impulse away from the cell body?

The axon is the part of a neuron that carries nerve impulses away from the cell body. It functions as a long, slender projection that transmits electrical signals over distances, allowing communication between the neuron and other cells. When a neuron is stimulated, it generates an action potential that travels along the axon, ultimately reaching the axon terminals where neurotransmitters are released into the synapse to communicate with adjacent neurons or muscles.

Dendrites, on the other hand, are the structures that receive incoming signals from other neurons and send them toward the cell body. The synapse is the junction between two neurons where neurotransmitter release occurs, but it does not carry impulses away from the cell body. The myelin sheath is an insulating layer that surrounds the axon, facilitating faster transmission of nerve impulses, but it does not carry the nerve impulse itself. Thus, the axon is specifically responsible for conducting impulses away from the cell body, making it the correct answer.