Final answer:
Among the basic fingerprint patterns, the arch is one of the three types along with loop and whorl, and is the least common. It features ridges that enter one side and exit on the other, rising in the center, and lacks deltas.
Step-by-step explanation:
The arch is one of the three basic types of fingerprint patterns, the other two being loop and whorl. Among these types, arches are the least common. Unlike loops which have one or more ridges entering from one side, curving, then exiting on the same side they entered, and unlike whorls that tend to have circular or spiral patterns, arches lack the presence of deltas and have ridges that enter from one side of the print and exit on the other. An arch will rise in the center, hence the name, and includes variations such as the plain arch and the tented arch. Given these characteristics, the correct answer to the student's question is C. Arch.