Hiccups could occur if there was irritation or damage to the ______. hiccups could occur if there was irritation or damage to the ______. dorsal rami of spinal nerves associated with the c3-c5 region of the spinal cord afferent neurons of spinal nerves associated with the c3-c5 region of the spinal cord cutaneous branches of rami associated with the c3-c5 region of the spinal cord motor branches of ventral rami associated with the c3-c5 region of the spinal cord