The　dead-ended　anode　(DEA)　configuration　can　simplify　proton　exchange　membrane　fuel　cell　(PEMFC)　systems　and　reduce　system　cost.　However,　the　DEA　configuration　can　also　accelerate　fuel　cell　degradation　during　long-term　operations.　Understanding　the　degradation　mechanisms　is　crucial　to　improve　fuel　cell　durability.　In　this　study,　experiments　are　performed　to　investigate　the　local　degradation　phenomena　in　PEMFCs　during　DEA　operations.　The　detailed　degradation　mechanisms　are　revealed　through　various　electrochemical　analysis.　The　local　polarization　curves　show　that　the　local　fuel　cell　performance　decreases　are　very　non-uniform　and　the　inlet　area　suffers　the　most　severe　performance　decrease.　Electrochemical　measurements　indicate　that　the　most　serious　carbon　corrosion　in　catalyst　layer　occurs　near　the　anode　outlet.　However,　the　most　severe　local　membrane　degradation　is　observed　near　the　anode　inlet.　Furthermore,　we　observe　that　the　pressure　swing　anode　supply　mode　can　significantly　mitigate　fuel　cell　degradation　during　DEA　operation.　The　water　and　gas　distributions　in　the　anode　are　much　more　uniform　with　the　periodical　oscillatory　flow　under　pressure　swing　mode,　reducing　local　membrane　dehydration　and　avoiding　local　hydrogen　starvation.　Thus,　both　the　local　membrane　degradation　and　local　carbon　corrosion　are　significantly　mitigated　under　the　pressure　swing　mode.