1. A system for constructing a statistical shape model from a set of training shapes, the system comprising: a database configured to store a set of training shape images; an image processing module configured to parameterize a first shape and a second shape in the set of training shapes to a common base domain; and an analysis module configured to evaluate correspondence between the first and second shapes using shape-specific data about the first shape and shape-specific data about the second shape, wherein evaluating correspondence comprises mapping the shape-specific data about the second shape to the shape-specific data about the first shape, and optimizing the mapping based at least in part on a deformation energy of the mapping.