Myofascia:  the largest organ system of the body, it connects one part to the other, allowing movement.

FMS: "Fibromyalgia is a dysfunction of the biochemical informational substances (neurotransmitters, hormones, peptides, etc.) and is non-degenerative, non-progressive, non-inflammatory, pain amplification disorder. It is systemic and biochemical in nature."
(quote from Fibromyalgia & Chronic Myofascial Pain Syndrome website: http://www.sover.net/~devstar/define.htm)

Tender Points: painful areas in FMS which do not refer pain elsewhere.

Trigger Points (TrPs ): extremely painful areas of tight myofascia, lumps and ropy bands; they refer pain and autonomic symptoms (changes in sweating and skin temperature) in characteristic patterns to surrounding tissues. This disorder is neuromuscular and mechanical in nature.

Chronic Myofascial Pain (CMP): Chronic TrPs occurring in widespread distribution throughout the body, due to the development of secondary and satellite TrPs in what is termed  a ?TrP cascade'.

FMS & CMP Complex: a combination of fibromyalgia and myofascial pain due to TrPs. The two conditions perpetuate each other