1 A neuron has 4 basic parts: the dendrites, the cell body (also called the soma), the axon and the axon terminal. 2  Dendrites-Extensions from the neuron cell body that take information to the cell body. 3  Dendrites usually branch close to the cell body.4  Cell body (soma) - the part of the cell that contains the nucleus. Introduction: The brain is made up of about 100 billion nerve cells (also called neurons). 2  A neuron has 4 basic parts: the dendrites, the cell body (also called the soma), the axon and the axon terminal.