sensor vs sensing element

sensor and sensing element both are nouns.

Word	Noun	Adjective	Verb	Adverb
sensor	Yes	No	No	No
sensing element	Yes	No	No	No

As nouns, sensor and sensing element are synonyms defined as:

sensor and sensing element: any device that receives a signal or stimulus (as heat or pressure or light or motion etc.) and responds to it in a distinctive manner

Other synonyms of sensor include detector.

sensor (noun)	sensing element (noun)
any device that receives a signal or stimulus (as heat or pressure or light or motion etc.) and responds to it in a distinctive manner	any device that receives a signal or stimulus (as heat or pressure or light or motion etc.) and responds to it in a distinctive manner