At the root of the medial plate of the pterygoid process on the base of the skull is a small canoe-shaped fossa (scaphoid fossa), which begins just medial to the foramen ovale and descends anteriorly and medially to the root of the medial plate of the pterygoid process (Fig. 8.248A). This fossa is for the attachment of one of the muscles of the soft palate (tensor veli palatini).