What does tel- mean in medical terms?

tel-

Meaning: end

Type: Prefix

A prefix goes at the very start of a word, before the root. On this page: what tel- means, and real medical words that use it, each broken down into its parts.

Example words using tel-

telomere
tel- (end) + mere (a part) = the end part of a chromosome
telophase
tel- (end) + phase (a stage) = the final stage of cell division

Shortened forms

Charts and notes shorten long terms — see the Medical Abbreviations guide for the short forms you will meet in real records.

Please note: This section teaches the language of medicine — what word parts mean and how terms are built. It is an educational reference, not medical advice. For the meaning of a word in your own medical record, ask the clinician who wrote it.