Explanation/Reference:
A spatial R-tree index can index spatial data of up to four dimensions. An R-tree index approximates each geometry by a single rectangle that minimally encloses the geometry (called the minimum bounding rectangle, or MBR), as shown in figure below.

For a layer of geometries, an R-tree index consists of a hierarchical index on the MBRs of the geometries in the layer, as shown in the figure below.

1 through 9 are geometries in a layer.
a, b, c, and d are the leaf nodes of the R-tree index, and contain minimum bounding rectangles of geometries, along with pointers to the geometries. For example, a contains the MBR of geometries 1 and
2, b contains the MBR of geometries 3 and 4, and so on.
A contains the MBR of a and b, and B contains the MBR of c and d.
The root contains the MBR of A and B (that is, the entire area shown).
References: https://docs.oracle.com/cd/B28359_01/appdev.111/b28400/sdo_intro.htm#SPATL459