An unidentified surgical specimen is received for histopathologic analysis. A portion of the specimen is cut and stained with hematoxylin and eosin. Under the microscope, you see an organ encapsulated by dense connective tissue that extends to the deeper areas by way of the trabecular extensions. The organ can be subdivided into two regions: a cortex with lymphoid nodules and medulla with medullary cords populated by plasma cells, B cells, and T cells. What anatomical structure is the most likely origin of this surgical specimen?