Abstract: A measuring element for determining the flow rate of the aspirated air of an internal combustion engine comprising a substrate, which is divided by two parallel separating slits of equal length into three prongs on which temperature-dependent resistor tracks are disposed. The measuring element has separating slits of optimized shape. To lessen the notch action and reduce tension peaks at the ends of the slits, one separating slit has a segment with a curved course, and another separating slit has a slit end embodied as an enlargement. The novel measuring element is especially suitable for determining the flow rate of the aspirated air in internal combustion engines.