Afferent axons of the muscle spindles, besides sending terminal buttons to the alpha motor neuron and to the brain, also synapse on inhibitory interneurons. The terminal buttons of these interneurons synapse on the alpha motor neurons that innervate the antagonistic muscle. (See Figure 8.8.) Thus, a stretch reflex excites the agonist and inhibits the antagonist so that the limb can move in the direction controlled by the stimulated muscle.