A fuel cell, of proton-exchange-membrane type, includes, stacked in the following order: a first terminal, an end anode plate, a plurality of membrane plates having a bipolar plate between every two membrane plates, an end cathode plate and a second terminal Each bipolar plate includes, preassembled in the following order: a medial cathode plate and a medial anode plate, each medial anode, end anode, medial cathode and end cathode plate comprising at least one duct for distributing a reactant. The anode end plate is produced by a bipolar plate of the same orientation, and an anode capable of obturating all of the ducts of the medial cathode plate of this bipolar plate. The cathode end plate is produced by a bipolar plate of the same orientation, and a cathode capable of obturating all of the ducts of the medial anode plate of this bipolar plate.