What are the small, branched processes of nerve cells called?

The small, branched processes extending from nerve cells are called dendrites. These tree-like projections receive electrical and chemical signals from other neurons and transmit them toward the cell body. Dendrites significantly increase the surface area of neurons, allowing a single nerve cell to receive input from thousands of other neurons simultaneously. This branching architecture is essential for complex information processing in the nervous system, enabling the integration of multiple signals before the neuron generates its own response through the axon.