The large intestine, or colon, receives material from the small intestine after nutrients have been absorbed.  At the junction of the small and large intestines there is a pouch, or cecum, with a finger-like extension called the vermiform appendix.  The colon is larger in diameter, but much shorter than the small intestine.  Much of the water used in digestion is reabsorbed here, as well as ions. Large numbers of hundreds of bacterial species are present in the large intestine.  Some of these produce vitamins that are absorbed.  Bacteria make up a large proportion of the solid matter of feces.