Where are T lymphocytes formed?

T lymphocytes, or T cells, are primarily formed in the bone marrow where they originate as precursor cells. However, their maturation occurs in the thymus, which is a specialized organ responsible for processing and differentiating these precursor cells into functional T lymphocytes. The thymus is crucial for the education of T cells, allowing them to recognize self from non-self, which is essential for a proper immune response.

While T cells are associated with lymphatic tissues such as the spleen and lymph nodes, their actual formation is linked to the processes occurring in the thymus where they gain the necessary characteristics to perform their immune functions. Thus, the correct answer emphasizes both the thymus involvement and association with other lymphatic tissues in the immune system, highlighting their role in the maturation phase of T cell development.