The ascending aorta delivers oxygenated blood FROM the heart, TO the head and arms.

Ascending aorta, arch of aorta and the descending aorta are located in your thoracic cavity.

ascending aorta

arch of aorta

thoracic aorta

abdominal aeorta

Blood goes in this order...

Right Atrium -> Right Ventricle -> Lungs -> Left Atrium -> Left Ventricle -> Ascending Aorta -> Descending Aorta.

So neither pump blood to the the Left Ventricle but the Left Ventricle pumps blood to the ascending aorta.

Ascending simply means that "x" originates at a lower point than it terminates.

For example, the ascending aorta starts from the left ventricle and ends at the arch of the aorta. The left ventricle is inferior to the arch of the aorta, thus that portion of the aorta is considered ascending.