Lean Body
The anatomical structure of the lion, the tallest of all cats, creates a lean animal with little body fat. Lions are almost all muscle, which allows for quick movement and fast speeds. Lions deceive with their movement -- or lack thereof. They sleep up to 20 hours per day and appear very lazy when awake and not moving. It is all part of the process of resting those long-legged muscles for work.
Masseter Muscle
A lion uses a combination of muscles when hunting and killing. One such muscle is the masseter, which is connected to the lower jar. It is the muscle lions use when gripping their prey. The masseter provides the grinding and crushing power and strength of the lion's teeth to secure its next meal. This muscle is central to the structure of the jaw and makes a lion a great hunter.
Neck Muscles
After using the masseter muscle to grab and hold its prey, a lion employs a minimum of seven muscles in its neck region. These muscles work in concert to allow the lion to hold, drag, shake and otherwise subdue its victim. In combination with the muscles in the paws, which help hold the prey, the neck muscles provide a powerful force.
Lioness as Hunter
The anatomy of the female lion makes her the better choice for hunting. She is lighter, quicker and faster than the male. Only the male has the trademark mane, which is a detriment when concealment is important. The lioness uses her excellent hearing, sight and smell to identify prey. The muscular structure of her paws allows her to move through grass with little sound. All of these anatomical features allow the female to identify her prey, successfully hide and move without being noticed.