Hiccups could occur if there was irritation or damage to the

There would be hiccups when the motor branches of ventral rami associated with the C3-C5 region of the spinal cord is damage.  Irritation of the phrenic nerve may cause diaphragm spasms called hiccups.  Dorsal and ventral rami are similar in that they both contain sensory and motor fibers.

all matter is made up of atoms

in any element all atoms are the same

elements in a compound are always in a constant ratio: apex