Final answer:
The claim regarding the periosteum is false because it contains blood vessels and nerves that nourish the bone, and is also vital for bone growth and repair.
Step-by-step explanation:
The statement that the periosteum is a tissue that serves only to protect the bone and is not supplied with nerves or blood vessels is false. The periosteum is a fibrous membrane that covers the outer surface of bones and plays a crucial role not only in the protection of bone but also in its nourishment and growth. This tissue contains blood vessels, nerves, and lymphatic vessels that nourish compact bone. It is also where tendons and ligaments attach, and it provides the cells necessary for bone growth and repair. The assertion that Haversian canals contain only blood vessels is incorrect; they indeed contain both blood vessels and nerve fibers, contributing to the complex vascular structure of bone.