Which part of the neuron is responsible for transmitting messages to the next neuron?

The axon is the part of the neuron specifically designed for transmitting messages to the next neuron. It is a long, slender projection that conducts electrical impulses away from the neuron's cell body, allowing for the efficient propagation of signals over distances. Once the electrical impulse reaches the end of the axon, it triggers the release of neurotransmitters from the terminal buttons, which can then cross the synaptic gap to affect the neighboring neuron. This role of the axon is crucial for communication within the nervous system, facilitating the relay of information between neurons to coordinate bodily functions and processes.

While dendrites receive incoming signals, the soma houses the cell's nucleus and integrates incoming signals, and terminal buttons release neurotransmitters, it is ultimately the axon's role that is central to the actual transmission of messages along the neural pathway.