A system designed to transmit power through a liquid medium, permitting multiplication of force in accordance with Pascal's law, which stated that "a pressure exerted on a confined liquid is transmitted undiminished in all directions and acts with equal force on all equal areas. " Hydraulic systems have six basic components: (1) a reservoir to hold the fluid supply; (2) a fluid to transmit the power; (3) a pump to move the fluid; (4) a valve to regulate pressure; (5) a directional valve to control the flow, and (6) a working component – such as a cylinder and piston or a shaft rotated by pressurised fluid – to turn hydraulic power into mechanical motion. Hydraulic systems offer several advantages over mechanical systems: They eliminate complicated mechanisms such as cams, gears, and levers; are less subject to wear; are usually more easily adjusted for control of speed and force; are easily adaptable to both rotary and liner transmission of power; and can transmit power over long distances and in any direction with small losses.