What part of the nerve cell is responsible for receiving messages from other cells?

The correct answer is that dendrites are the part of a nerve cell responsible for receiving messages from other cells. Dendrites are tree-like extensions that branch out from the neuron's body. Their structure allows them to connect with multiple other neurons, making it easier to receive a wide array of signals.

When neurotransmitters are released from the axon terminal of one neuron, they travel across the synapse and bind to receptors located on the dendrites of the receiving neuron. This interaction allows the receiving neuron to process the incoming signals, facilitating communication within the nervous system. Each neuron can have many dendrites, which increases its ability to receive information from various sources, enhancing its overall function in sending and relaying messages throughout the body.

In contrast, axons are primarily responsible for transmitting messages away from the neuron to other neurons or target cells, and the somatic system typically refers to voluntary control of body movements. Meanwhile, the synapse is the gap between two neurons where communication occurs, but it is not a part of the nerve cell itself that receives messages. Thus, dendrites play a crucial role in initiating the process of neural communication by capturing incoming signals.