Mass Air Flow Sensor
WARNING: This page is about a different car, the 2016 Nissan Rogue. However, it is still accessible from the selected car via links, so may be relevant.
The mass air flow sensor
is placed in the stream of intake air. It measures the intake flow rate by measuring a part of the entire intake flow. The MAF sensor controls the temperature of the heater in sensing element to a certain amount. The temperature distribution around the heater changes according to the increase in intake air volume. The change is detected by a thermistor and the air volume data is sent to ECM by the MAF sensor.
Courtesy of NISSAN NORTH AMERICA, INC.