exists and is an alternate of . Making the world better, one answer at a time. The periosteum is the tough, vascular membrane which covers the surface of a bone, except for the articular cartilage. The periosteum contains the blood vessels which supply nutrients to the bones enabling them to regenerate. The periosteum is the tough, vascular membrane which covers the surface of a bone, except for the articular cartilage. The periosteum contains the blood vessels which supply nutrients to the bones enabling them to regenerate.