Final answer:
If a person loses a fingernail or toenail, it will not be missing permanently as long as the nail bed is not damaged. The nail will regrow and replace the missing one.
Step-by-step explanation:
Fingernails and toenails consist of specialized epidermal cells that are filled with keratin. The keratin makes them tough and hard. As the nail grows, more cells are added at the nail bed, and older cells get pushed away from the nail bed, causing the nail to grow longer. However, if a person loses a fingernail or toenail, it will not be missing permanently as long as the nail bed is not damaged. The nail will regrow and replace the missing one.