Blood flow occurs through a series of vessels with different characteristics.
Systemic flow occurs from the left ventricle through the aorta, to arteries, arterioles , capillaries, venules, veins and the vena cava. The amounts of the latter differ for arterial and venous circulation giving rise to functional differences between the two. Note that by the time blood completes it circulatory trip all of the pressure generated by ventricular contraction has been dissipated. See figure 14-35. Arterial Circulation -Pressure Reservoir.