Broad ligament of adult, showing epoöphoron. (From Farre, after Kobelt.) a, a. Epoöphoron formed from the upper part of the Wolffian body. b. Remains of the uppermost tubes sometimes forming appendices. c. Middle set of tubes. d. Some lower atrophied tubes. e. Atrophied remains of the Wolffian duct. f. The terminal bulb or hydatid. h. The uterine tube, originally the duct of Müller. i. Appendix attached to the extremity. l. The ovary.
Uterus and right broad ligament, seen from behind. The epoophoron is visible in upper right
The epoophoron (also called organ of Rosenmüller[2][3] or the parovarium) is a remnant of the Wolffian duct that can be found next to the ovary and fallopian tube.
It may contain 10-15 transverse small ducts or tubules that lead to the Gartner’s duct (also longitudinal duct of epoophoron) that represents the caudal remnant of the Wolffian duct and passes through the broad ligament and the lateral wall of the cervix and vagina.
While the epoophoron is located in the lateral portion of the mesosalpinx and mesovarium, the paroophoron (residual remnant of that part of the Wolfian duct that forms the paradidymis in the male) lies more medially in the mesosalpinx.
^ J. C. Rosenmüller. De ovariis embryonum et foetuum humanorum. 1802.
^ Woolnough E, Russo L, Khan MS, Heatley MK (2000). "An immunohistochemical study of the rete ovarii and epoophoron". Pathology32 (2): 77–83. PMID 10840824.
^ Russo L, Woolmough E, Heatley MK (2000). "Structural and cell surface antigen expression in the rete ovarii and epoophoron differs from that in the Fallopian tube and in endometriosis". Histopathology37 (1): 64–9. PMID 10931220.