What is the name of the fiberlike extension of a neuron that transmits information to target cells?

The fiberlike extension of a neuron that transmits information to target cells is known as the axon. Axons are specialized structures that carry electrical impulses away from the neuron's cell body, or soma, towards other neurons, muscles, or glands. The axon's primary function is to facilitate communication within the nervous system by transmitting signals over long distances, often leading to the release of neurotransmitters at the axon terminals, where the synapse occurs with the target cells. This makes the axon a crucial component for the rapid relay of information throughout the nervous system.

While dendrites serve to receive information and conduct signals toward the soma, and the soma itself contains the cell’s nucleus and organelles, it is the axon that plays the key role in sending signals away from the neuron. The terminal is the endpoint of the axon where neurotransmitters are released but does not itself serve as the primary conduit for transmitting impulses. Thus, the axon's function as the main transmitter of information solidifies its importance in neuronal communication.