Fuel cell, comprising: - a membrane/electrode assembly including a proton exchange membrane, and a cathode in contact with a first face of the membrane, and an anode in contact with a second face of the membrane; - two bipolar plates between which is positioned the membrane/electrode assembly, said bipolar plates being traversed by at least one first flow collector in communication with said cathode and by a second flow collector; characterized in that: - the membrane/electrode assembly comprises a first active region covered by said cathode, a second active region covered by said anode, a first connecting region not covered by said cathode and positioned between said first flow collector and the first active region, and a second connecting region not covered by said anode and positioned between said second flow collector and the second active region; - the membrane/electrode assembly additionally comprises a first hydrophilic component positioned in said first connecting region, the first hydrophilic component, which is impermeable to gases, being inserted to form a hydric junction between said first and second connecting regions; - the fuel cell comprises a reinforcement attached to the membrane and to the first hydrophilic component, said reinforcement comprising a first orifice through which said first hydrophilic component is accessible and comprising a second orifice through which said cathode is accessible, the reinforcement being attached to the periphery of the membrane and separating the proton exchange membrane from the first hydrophilic component, the reinforcement, the membrane and the first hydrophilic component being separate elements. - a membrane/electrode assembly including a proton exchange membrane, and a cathode in contact with a first face of the membrane, and an anode in contact with a second face of the membrane; - two bipolar plates between which is positioned the membrane/electrode assembly, said bipolar plates being traversed by at least one first flow collector in communication with said cathode and by a second flow collector; - the membrane/electrode assembly comprises a first active region covered by said cathode, a second active region covered by said anode, a first connecting region not covered by said cathode and positioned between said first flow collector and the first active region, and a second connecting region not covered by said anode and positioned between said second flow collector and the second active region; - the membrane/electrode assembly additionally comprises a first hydrophilic component positioned in said first connecting region, the first hydrophilic component, which is impermeable to gases, being inserted to form a hydric junction between said first and second connecting regions; - the fuel cell comprises a reinforcement attached to the membrane and to the first hydrophilic component, said reinforcement comprising a first orifice through which said first hydrophilic component is accessible and comprising a second orifice through which said cathode is accessible, the reinforcement being attached to the periphery of the membrane and separating the proton exchange membrane from the first hydrophilic component, the reinforcement, the membrane and the first hydrophilic component being separate elements.