The ischemic penumbra can maintain metabolic demand with marginal blood flow from collateral circulation for a maximum of before increasing in size.

The ischemic penumbra can maintain metabolic demand with marginal blood flow from collateral circulation for a maximum of 50% before increasing in size. A penumbra is the area where the flow of blood at about 25 - 50% can maintain normal metabolic demands for 6 - 8 hours only. When it continues to increase, the human cells will die and other neurological activity will be suspended causing the person to die slowly.