Final answer:
The layer of dividing cells at the base of the epidermis is the stratum basale, which contains stem cells called basal cells that divide to form new keratinocytes. The correct answer to the question is b) stratum basale. Langerhans cells are found in the stratum spinosum layer.
Step-by-step explanation:
The layer of dividing cells at the base of the epidermis is the stratum basale.
It is the innermost or deepest layer of the epidermis, and it contains stem cells known as basal cells.
These cells divide to form new keratinocytes, which are the primary cells that make up the epidermis.
The stratum basale also contains melanocytes, which produce melanin and give the skin its color.
The layer above the stratum basale is the stratum spinosum, which contains Langerhans cells and spiny keratinocytes.
The correct answer to the student's question is b) stratum basale.
Langerhans cells are commonly found in the stratum spinosum, not the stratum basale.
These cells play a role in the immune response of the skin.