There is a similar structure in males called the rete testis, which sits inside the testicles and helps transport sperm. But unlike its male counterpart, the RO was never assigned a clear role in the female reproductive system. Over time, it was often dismissed as a leftover structure with little or no function and eventually disappeared from many anatomy textbooks.
Now, recent research from a study published in eLife in March 2025 is bringing this overlooked part of the ovary back into focus. A closer look using modern imaging and molecular techniques suggests that the RO may be far more active and complex than scientists once thought.